Performance Perm/”I’d Rather Be a Blind Girl”

after Etta James, Live from San Francisco, 1994

Lord, Etta—

Something told me My mama waited too long to mention it was over. When

I saw you with that girl & yall was talking her neighbor saw you with that girl

& yall was talking cueing your music all summer long Something deep down

—scotch Something deep down & water, Something deep down gin & Something

deep down you, Something deep down said / it was over / When I saw you / gone & cry

girl she knew how to keep company. All my muscles deep down undone

now. Girl, I shoulda Something told me Something told me Something told me

had your name. Et-ta, Et-ta. Et-ta. & I’d rather. Let the men holler after

me, & I’d rather let the women shake their heads. Something told me relish

the cool I was just sitting here thinking of a single ice cube thinking melted

thinking at the bar counter, thinking thinking thinking thinking far from

conversation. You sang the songs & I’m scared to be by myself. Your mama

warned you not to—& I’d rather & I’d rather & I’d rather & I’d rather &—be by

myself. Yo. Yo. Hmmm. & yo. I see yall know what I’m talking bout when I say, sweet

sin & excess, & yo. I see yall know what I’m talking bout when I say, Cigarettes

& yo. & yo. & yo. & yo the smoke when I look down into my glass & say

Yo, Summer. Yo & yo & revealing its Yo damp sky, Yo. Yo. Yo. Yo. Yo. Yo. &

yo. When I saw you with that same person & I’m scared to be by myself. &

holler after me. Too long. Something told me.