New Black Fedora

I went online ’cause I couldn’t find
a New Black Fedora at my local
hardware store.
With a feather in its side, I felt new pride,
and headed for the Dress Rehearsal.
I read my lines, did real fine,
never took off my hat,
come Column Time it seems just fine,
to tell you about my New Black Fedora.
Curtis lent me his, in case mine
didn’t come on time, but it did,
right on schedule.
Came in a box on the front porch.
Never bought a hat online,
so I opened my new box with glee,
Oooh Wee! My New Black Fedora!
Goin’ downtown to the Capitol Building
next Sunday, where the CA statesmen
all once sat, each with a tophat
and a spittoon on the floor.
Benton Fremont at your service,
husband to Elsie Robinson
(played by Sheena Beeson),
nationally syndicated columnist
from the 1930s, born and bred
in Benicia she was, California!
Showtime, Folks, is 1pm!
©Peter Bray 9/12/2017

Guitar Strap

Sometimes I see videos
and a musician’s back,
and he’s wearing his life’s work
from a guitar strap.
And no matter how those
chords never befriended me,
I still like to see that guitar strap
and my imagination just gallops.
©Peter Bray 9/12/2017

Starbucks Benicia Office

Been to see a customer in Vallejo,
then early lunch of Fish and Chips at
Long John Silver on Redwood Street,
then to a shade tree at Home Depot-Vallejo
for a nap and to buy a new WeedEater,
then to Costco for gas, then to
my Starbucks Benicia Office
to finish my column
and customer billing –
See the eyeballs filling with
young tender stuff besides croissants,
music, and a “Small house coffee,
room for cream.”
©Peter Bray 9/12/2017

Email to John Prine

Last week I sent another
email to John Prine,
c/o Oh Boy Records.
I just want him know
I’m a big fan of his,
and his music and lyrics
had a real impact on me.
One day, years ago
riding the BART train
to work in San Francisco,
with a lot on my mind,
I chanced to encounter
a saxophone-playing
street musician on
the Muni level of the
Embarcadero BART Station.
He spoke no words
but I sat and listened
to his sad and funny music
and wrote, “Life’s Just a
John Prine Song.”
It’s on youtube.com
along with these others
I also wrote:

Two Right Shoes
Colitis Blue
Can’t Find The Pharaoh
(Quarry Song/ Rooms & Brooms)
I Buy Jam
Dog Food Commercial
Methane Jane
Daddy Was a Hard Drive
Laid off American Man
Buy The Farm
You Are the Song
I’ve Been Better & I’ve Been Worse

See also:
“Peter Bray at the Rellik,”
for “Bottom Back,”
“Box Top Shop,”
“East Benicia Jail Song”
“The Compost News Blues,”
and “Dear Writer.”

Peter Bray lives, writes, and works in Benicia
and has written this column since 2008.

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