Juke-joint jive—
blues rite in purpled night
as bodies sway, in freedom
from the toil of day—
listen to the guitar play
the riff, a midnight train’s goodbye
sigh away the years of strife–
hard-fought life, forgotten
as moon shines
from a mason jar.
We are celebrating dVerse’s Tenth Anniversary. Our special guest host, Brian Miller, has asked us to write a quadrille using the word juke, a word I’m sure I’ve never used in a poem before. I found this mural on Wikimedia Commons. You’re welcome, Resa. 😏
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I love, love, love this ending Merril.
Thank you very much, Linda!
I had never heard of a juke-joint either, but I love how you described it as a relief from all the weekday strife. So much more than “afterwork”
Thank you. I was kind of imagining The Color Purple, and what it was like to escape at night.
i have had a few of those mason jars…hehe…not tonight, but…
we are all looking for an escape at times. live music can so do that to me.
i missed it so much during the pandemic. i am glad to see some opening up.
unwinding to a guitar….sigh indeed.
Thank you. Yes, live music is definitely special.
I’ve had drinks in mason jars, but not moonshine. 😀
oh and love the art.
It’s quite a mural, isn’t it?
This is perfection, Merril!
Thank you very much! That is high praise indeed. 😀
Always well deserved.
Now… what the hell am I going to do? 😉
Hahaha. You’ll come up with something. You probably have a juke box memory with a photo! 😀
Well… something has just come to me 😉
😀
Moonshine in a mason jar …. what a wonderful line!
Thank you so much, Beverly!
Oh that closing is absolutely stellar, Merril 😀 I love how effortlessly this poem flows. Happy Tenth dVerse Anniversary ❤️❤️
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sanaa! And Happy Tenth to you, too! ❤️
This is excellent, Merril! Takes us right to the juke box joint….but, if I’m honest here, within a different “culture” from the bobby-sox, pony tail, white owned and frequented drive-in/eat-in joints I went to with my girlfriends to gqwk at boys or, if we were on a date with one of those high school boys, share a malted milk shake. We were so unaware (and privileged) in those days living in a white world…..I’m glad you’ve written this side of memories, and included the wonderful mural.
Thank you very much, Lillian. I didn’t experience either of those worlds, but as a historian, I’m always annoyed by “the good old days” romanticizing of eras. That mural is wonderful, isn’t it?
such a beautiful capture of how music can help us forget all the hard work and just be in the moment – i think we all need this from time to time
Thank you very much. Yes, I think you’re right.
Nicely painted with just the right sip at the end. Great poem in 44 words.
Thank you so much, Lisa!
You’re very welcome 🙂
That is a fabulous mural! I love “a midnight train’s goodbye”. Awesome.
Thank you so much, Sherry!
This is so beautiful!
Thank you, Lucy!
Oh, I love your moon shines from a mason jar! Excellent! Great take on the prompt Merril.
Thank you very much, Dwight!
You are welcome!
As a 35-year resident of Austin, Texas, I was thrilled to see your accompanying image and read your wonderful quadrille.
Thank you so much, Ron! Do you know the place?
No, never been and don’t recall ever seeing the mural (it was put up shortly before I left).
Oh, too bad! 😀
Yum.
Thank you.
Nicely done, Merril! I think some of my West Virginia kinfolk drank moonshine from a mason jar. 🙂
Thank you, Jill. 😀😀
Love the blues rite in purpled night, and rhythm of the guitar riffs!
Thank you very much, Grace!
here in England we ssometimes drink whiskey from a jam jar. great poem
Thank you so much!
I feel it, hear it, see it, taste it ~~~ stellar writing.
Thank you very much, Helen!
Excellent, Merril!
Thank you so much, Lynn!
I really like this poem. Nicely done.
Thank you so much!
This is so lovely! Thank you Merril! 🙂
Thank you very much, Na’ama!
🙂
I love the swing and sway of your word play here Merril, and all those references to a bygone era. The image is great too!
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
Such appropriate rhythm has us swinging along
Thank you very much, Derrick! 😀
Wonderful, Merril. One of those poems that makes me want more.
I’m re-reading “The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes. You poem reminded me.
What a lovely comment, Bill–and to be reminded of Langston Hughes–wow!!
🙂
Midnight train goodbye is such a great line. Love the graffiti mural as well.
Thank you so much!
Wow, some killer phrases….”purpled night”, “midnight train’s goodbye” and your ending is wonderful. 🙂
Thank you so much, Mish! 😀
Super write Merril! Loved the spirit and the energy! Coooool… 😉
Thank you so much, Rob! 😀
Gorgeous poem, love the internal rhymes. Great picture to accompany it.
Thank you very much! I’m so pleased you liked the poem and the mural image.
I love how your ending was both unexpected to me & also perfectly fit the poem, Merril. That was just so well done.
❤
David
Thank you so much, David. That’s a lovely comment!
You’ve captured the quality of letting go embodied in the word. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
got to say that last stanza took my breath away.
Wow–thank you so much!
I love dancing–have done it professionally–and your words are perfect. Thank you.
Thank you.
This is amazing and your perfect poetry is made for this wall art. 💙
Thank you so much, Rene! 💙
You’re so welcome and so deserving .
💙
💙