Blues Poems
by North Kansas City High School Sophomores
North Kansas City, Missouri
During a unit on America in the 1920s, history teacher Kali Williams asked that each of her students compose a blues-form poem about some problem of that time. The class generated ideas for subjects that included: African Americans moving to the North; farmers buying on credit and going into debt; clashing attitudes of traditional women and modern women, or flappers; and the general clash between urban and rural values.
Each student wrote the poem from the perspective of a 1920s character. A few of these are below.
Flappers
by a Traditional Woman
Her hair's not past her ear,
And she looks like a boy.
Her hair's not past her ear,
And she looks like a boy.
The black curls don't go far,
And she's become a man's toy.
A little lady's walkin’ by,
And the men are a-lookin’.
A little lady's walkin’ by,
And the men are a-lookin’.
Her skirt's up to her knees,
She should be at home cookin’.
It doesn’t say much,
When she says she'll be rich someday.
It doesn't say much,
When she says she'll be rich someday.
Who knows why she’s outta the house.
The husbands should be the one’s willin’ to pay.
-Katie
Baby's Blues
by a Poor Farmer
I'm sittin' here helpless,
My baby is cryin',
I'm just sittin' here hopeless,
And my po' baby is cryin',
You can see her ribs,
And soon she'll be dyin'.
That stinkin' salesman,
He took all my money,
That stinkin' salesman,
Man, he took all my money.
Now everything is gone,
Just like my homely honey.
The city lights are far away,
They are my yearning,
The city lights are far, far away,
They are my yearning,
I'll never be rich again,
My life lesson I'm learning.
-Alec
Always in a Whirl
by an Aspiring Young Woman
Oh Granny, Oh Granny,
I ain't wearin' no puffy shirt.
Oh Granny, Oh Granny,
I ain't wearin' no puffy shirt.
No high starch collars, no long-length skirts.
Oh Momma, Oh Momma,
I ain't gonna stay at home.
Oh Momma, Oh Momma,
I ain't gonna stay at home.
I'm leavin' this town,
And round the world I'll roam.
Oh Daddy, Oh Daddy,
I'm still your little girl.
Oh Daddy, Oh Daddy,
I'm still your little girl.
But I'm a woman tornado,
And I'm always in a whirl.
-Amanda
Mooo!!!
by a Salesman
Buy your things on credit.
Enjoy them while you pay.
Buy your things on credit.
Enjoy them while you pay.
Have ’em right now,
And pay another day.
Who cares about interest?
Get a fridge right now.
Who cares about interest?
Get a fridge right now.
Now you get milk from your fridge,
Instead of from a cow.
Get whatever you want,
And get it right away.
Get whatever you want,
And get it right away.
Get your home fully equipped,
At just a small price to pay.
-Ross
To the Big Lights
by a Traditional Male
My girl's gone,
To the big lights.
Oh gone gone gone,
To the big lights.
Went with her new man,
Didn't even leave with a fight.
Now I'm alone,
Heart's in the rain.
Now I'm alone,
Heart's in the rain.
Now I got a big problem,
Weighin' me down like chains.
My stomach's a rumbling,
Empty as a shade.
My stomach's a rumbling,
Empty as a shade.
I need a new woman,
To get my dinner made.
-Amy
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North Kansas City High School Sophomores
North Kansas City, Missouri
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North Kansas City High School Sophomores
North Kansas City, Missouri
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