Mom and Dad gave Billy that dime store guitar
when he was little. He took it from there.
I left home, and when I orbited back,
he’d transformed himself into a big ball of
Toy Caldwell, Richard Betts and Jerry Garcia.
The kid with the plastic-stringed plywood box
now strode onto stages a guitar god.
But when he gave in to his blues…oh my.
Under the lights, with that Strat in his hands,
he finally was who he was meant to be…himself.
He could raise us up, then make us cry,
all with a two-step bend of a G.
Then he’d release it, like he did one night
with his spirit, to sit in with Toy and Jerry.
He’ll never have to give up his seat.
Stevie Ray says he’s got his back.
He’s Wild Bill and they all know
he just belongs.
My friend Anthony Desmond has asked folks to write a poem about music. My relationship with music is deep as the Marianas Trench, but it’s center of gravity always is my late brother Bill.
A Thing for Words 
it takes searching, digging and doing this, then moving onto that, to find who we are…
I’m glad your brother got to relish in the glory that is his true self before he passed.
Some don’t find it soon enough…
Music can be a vehicle inward and one outward–glad for your brother that he found his way–
I had the pleasure of seeing Wild Bill play a bunch of times. A nice tribute, Joe.
Thanks, Steve. A lousy bit of whatever for a remarkable musician and gentle soul. Fret buzz for a genius.
that is cool that he found himself in music…i played and sang in a band when i was a teen and it def was an outlet to finding myself…i do like my blues….
This is an incredible piece, brother, strong as a six-string slide, painful, beautiful, touching, so personal it almost hurts to read it, yet a tribute for sure; and talk about rocking the prompt, Jesus laughed before he wept, & he hangs at the juke joint the blues men keep rocking 24/7 up there.
What a beautiful and powerful tribute to music and your brother. Bravo!
To search yourself – to find yourself within that music.. I find that the minor key is what moves us the most.. It’s like we need to cry to sing well.Great tribute to your late brother Joe.
Thank you for sharing your brother’s music with us. A powerful poem.
i truly think ART of all types..
has the POWER to set our souls FREE…
And Billy is one lucky SOUL..
that returns to the free LIFE of his LIGHT…:)
Groovy piece. Love- “He could raise us up, then make us cry, / all with a two-step bend of a G.”
Such fascinating piece –
“he finally was who he was meant to be…himself.
He could raise us up, then make us cry,
all with a two-step bend of a G.”
Quite a journey, loved it.
Powerful, soulful, beautiful way to honor your brother and his musical gift…rock on!
The heart ache is still present, Joe – a poem filled with music and love
So heartfelt. I too love the line “he finally was who he was meant to be… himself.” I’m sure your brother must have known that you understood what the music meant to him. And that understanding was a lovely gift.
I’m sorry for your loss, Joe.
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Joe, this was a wonderful tribute to your brother. And what a place for him to find himself – truly. I really liked your incredible line — “he finally was who he was meant to be – himself.’ That is all anyone should wish for anyone, I think….to be themselves.