My Voice

Glockenspiel, timpani, trumpet, saxophone,
clavichord, harpsichord, guitar, big trombone.
Harmonium, euphonium, oboe, vi-o-la,
tambourine, violin, cello, pi-a-na.
Xylophone, paper & comb, tuba, or bassoon
castanet, clarinet, tuba oompah-boom!
Now, if you don’t have even one of these,
how will you make your tune?

The cheapest, smallest instrument will amplify your soul –
a ‘tin sandwich’, a ‘gob iron’, ‘Mississippi saxophone’.
I blow my heart into an old blues harp,
find and free my spirit
and when I’m bending those sevenths and sharps
and no-one in the world can see it,
I kiss my secret lover,
my closest friend and saviour.

I was ten years old
when it blew into my soul,
never since have I felt I had choice;
when I woke up this morning
harmonica – my one true voice