Vampire Blues
VAMPIRE BLUES
Having Death open doors for you is like making love to someone ugly.
It’s a hell of a lot of fun until your friends find out.
On the one hand, there’s the power, the rush like none in the world,
On the other is the hatred of the religiously devout.
Refrain
Got the blues of a vampire, got the vampire blues,
Forget what you gain, and grieve what you lose,
Got the blues of a vampire, got the vampire blues.
Got servants, and secrets, science and séances, too.
Blood-rush wakes me at the first hint of night’s kiss.
Got forty-seven reasons to tell myself I’m better than you.
But I can’t feel you, I can’t remember what I miss.
Refrain
I’m an empty vessel on an uncharted and lonely course -
Grasping at the glow of life only to crush it in my embrace.
You look but only see the swiftly donned mask of remorse,
My hellish deeds writ large upon my soul, not on my face.
Refrain
I’d give it all back just to walk under a sunny summer sky,
Return the bloodlust and emotional abyss postage due.
‘Cause I gotta live forever without my reason to want to try,
I gotta walk eternity looking for another one of you.
Refrain
Coda
You lose more than you gain, vampire blues, you lose.
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Shared with DVerse Poets as an example of a piece that opens with a hook.
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©2024 Christopher Reilley
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The hook in the beginning really captured me.
ReplyDeleteVampire blues was a clue, but your opening lines came as a surprise, Chris! I really enjoyed reading this song, and would love to hear it set to music. My favourite lines:
ReplyDelete‘I’m an empty vessel on an uncharted and lonely course -
Grasping at the glow of life only to crush it in my embrace’
and the regret that echoes in ‘I’d give it all back just to walk under a sunny summer sky’.
What an excellent opening stanza!
ReplyDeleteThis is Kim Whysall-Hammond here....
DeleteGreat song! You need to set it to music.
ReplyDeleteThat is a whale of an opening line! Vampires totally give me the willies though. Eeep.
ReplyDeleteThat opening line hits the bullseye for hook! I hadn't thought of vampires getting the blues--until now~
ReplyDeleteThat opening line caught my attention right away.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem/song, Chris! Your first line made me laugh. I loved it!
ReplyDeleteYvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
WHAT AN INTRODUCTION!! I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR ILLUSTRATION---WHERE'D YOU GET IT? DUE TO MY OWN BLOGS' CHRISTIAN EMPHASIS, THINGS LIKE THIS DON'T FLY VERY OFTEN,BUT I LIKE IT---ALMMOST FEELING PITY FOR THE VAMPIRE!
ReplyDelete