Sally the Busker

Our challenge as presented by Sarah at dVerse is to choose a poem we've read, and write a poem in response.  My poem is Poe's "Annabel Lee".  I've always been partial to story poems, and enjoy writing them from time to time.  "Sally, the Busker" is one such poem, scribbled in my bedside notebook after a "midnight epiphany" during the past week's hiatus."

Submitted also to Poets & Storyteller's United Wednesday Scribblings, where we were asked to revisit past challenges.  The challenge I have in mind is #8 "Early Birds and Night Owls} for obvious reasons.  The buskers poem is the result of what I call "midnight epiphany".

Sally was a busker on the L Street line

She sang for her supper, and nickels and dimes

She wore a faded shirt and  ragged jeans

Holes in her shoe soles, and pockets full of dreams

She could be somebody, her momma said

Just keep her eye on the prize and don’t lose her head

With her eye on a scholarship and her goal school of law

She determined with hard work she could just show them all

She worked two jobs and slept when she could

She won accolades like momma said she would

Now she has an office and she’s standing tall

A long list of clients, and her diploma on the wall

She’s gained the accoutrements that speak for success

But Sally determined to give back, I guess

She speaks to the children in the old neighborhood

Instilling in them that life can be good

“You can be somebody, just like my momma said

Keep your eye on the prize and don’t lose your head

Just look at me now, I look mighty fine

But I’m still Sally, the busker, from the L Street line”