DISCLAIMER: This poem, Ivy Court Blues, is a work of fiction, but based sadly on universal real life events. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author's imagination, but also awareness of similar publicly known or reported stories. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental. ABOUT THE POET: Kristen Zory King is a native of New York and a summa cum laude graduate of SUNY Fredonia - with a degree in French and English Literature. She is an avid writer, reader, feminist and supporter for The Arts; she is also a vocal advocate for solving major national and world problems. Kristen Zory King's day job is Development Opertions Manager for DC Central Kitchen (mission is to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities). Previously, she was Book Events Manager for Busboys and Poets* (six locations in Washington D.C., Arlington, VA, and Hyattsville, MD) with restaurants, bookstores, lounges and theaters. For vivid examples of her multifaceted events/activities, see archived videos from the C-Span 2 Book TV Library. During Ms. King's rapidly rising career, she has had other significant writing and management positions. She has been Development and Membership Manager at The Writers Center in Bethesda, MD; other past professional experience included work with literary institutions such as Writers and Books in Rochester, NY, The Writers Block in Las Vegas, NV, and the Beloit Poetry Journal in Portland, ME. Some of her other poetry and writings can be found in The Inn House Review, Cactus Heart Press, Poetry Breakfast, The Trident, Lipstick Party Magazine and other on-going publication. *****In 2017, Kristen Zory King founded MoonLit which is an artist-led organization that creatively connects community through accessible and engaging literary programs in DC, Maryland and Virginia. To learn more, visit moonlitdc.com. WIND CHIMES PHOTO AND SOUND EFFECT CREDITS: The Representative Photo for Ivy Court Blues is from Google Images depicting an old blue wine bottle modified into a wind chime. This unique wind chime (and similar items) can be purchased from Pinterest.com. And the Representative Sound Effect of wind chimes for Ivy Court Blues is from a Youtube video uploaded public domain. IVY COURT BLUES POEM READER: Dr. Robert S. Morrissey, aka: Dr. Bob *FOOTNOTE FOR THE LITERARY CURIOUS: The name Busboys and Poets refers to American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel (Washington, D.C.) in the 1920s, prior to gaining recognition as a poet.

Lyrics IVY COURT BLUES by Kristen Zory King On certain nights in August (when the air is so hot that your mind is dizzy and drunk) close your eyes and listen to the Ivy Court Blues. It's a sad little tune you could find anywhere, but I swear to God you've only half a heart if you don't cry. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues On certain nights in August (when the moon's so bright even mama's morning glories can't fall asleep) close your eyes and listen to the Ivy Court Blues. Hear the soft cries of the woman upstairs and the thump, thump thump of her husband's drumming fist. Listen to her tears, tinkling like chimes in the wind, and try not to nod your head to the awful rhythm of his hard, pounding grunts. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues. On certain nights in August (when your skin is as dry as the crumbling sand off the Susquehanna River) close your eyes and listen to the Ivy Court Blues. Hear the heavy sighs of the widow one room down, her dark moans weaving through the night, haunting the dreams of those still naive with warm beer, rock-n-roll. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues. On certain nights in August (when the sky is so dark you could tip your chin back and drink it up) close your eyes and listen to the Ivy Court Blues. Hear the blood fall from the knuckles of the brothers next door, their throat song sharp like a trumpet's horn. Listen to that brassy chorus, angry at the stage three cancer that stole away their mother and let their father drown in gin. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues. On certain nights in August (when the air is so hot that your mind is dizzy and drunk) close your eyes and listen to the Ivy Court Blues. It's a sad little tune you could find anywhere, but I swear to God you've only half a heart if you don't cry. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues. Listen to the Ivy Court Blues... *****NOTE: For poetic effect of verse and music , the first stanza of the original poem was repeated as an ending stanza. Also, for similar reason, additional repetition of the line, "Listen to the Ivy Court Blues", was added at the poem/song ending*****