Blues for Zoey (25 page)

78

“Colt's-Tooth Blues” by Shain
Cope (1981)

He heard there's r
ain in Paris

Gotta wonder if she's there
She always looked her prettiest
With drizzle in her hair

The sky
's got nothing in it
Just the flapping of the crows
The sun's as bright as butterflies
Or so the saying goes

Y
ou wish that she were still around

You wish that she were here
I thought I was a poet once
I'
m just a profiteer

If only I were beautiful

Like something rotten on a beach
That stuff has got a kind of grace
N
o one ever sees

There's a woman out in front of here
Selling pictures of the saints
He
re's a wandering of pilgrims
Come to maunder their complaints
They dream about the good old days
They want a little fun
No one told them youth
It's only wasted on the
young

Bet you wonder where she got to
Bet you wish that she was here
I could'
ve been a poet once
I'll prob'ly disappear
Wishing I was pretty
In a way nobody sees
The way the dirt's as pure as gold
To the toes of any tree

Now the chimney pots are c
rumbling
The walls are caving in
You can always count on me
To take it on the chin
It's darker now
, it's going gray
Hey look, here come the crows
That moon's a wicked stick of bone
O
r so the saying goes

I wonder what she's doing now
If only she were here
I thought I was a poet once
Full of bourbon, full of beer
If I could get the words to bloom
I bet you I could sing
Without the mud of autumn rain
There'
s never any spring

She waltzed around, she beat her drum
She had her own guitar
A
ll the time I used to think
The girl could be a star
Then she up and went away
Felt like I was cursed
Get it wrong or get it right
There
's gotta be a first

If only you could see her now
If only she were here
Songs like this a
re all we got
These little souvenirs
I hope you think it's pretty

Like something forgotten on a beach
That stuff has got a beauty to it
No one ever sees

Acknowledgments

This book would not be possible without the efforts of many wonderful
people. My sincere thanks to my family and friends, for their endless r
efrains of support and encouragement; to Lynne Missen, whose friendship and guidance made this story hum; to Jackie Kaiser, without whom I would lose all rhythm; to Mitch Kowalski
and the chorus of voices at the To
ronto Writers' Center, where I wrote the majority of the book.

I would also like to thank the Ontario Council for the Arts, for the generous grant that allowed me to complete the initial draft. Finally, as always, my thanks to Machiko (who knows exactly where the laundromat is).

About the Author

Robert Paul Weston is the author of several internationally award-winning novels for children and young adults, including
Zorgamazoo
,
Dust City
, and
The Creature Department
, written in collaboration with the British special effects firm Framestore (
Gravity
,
Avatar
,
Where the Wild Things Are
). His novels have won prizes in Canada, the United States, and Germany, including the California Young Reader Medal and German Audio Book of the Year. In the past, he has been a baker's assistant, a computer programer, a trampoline coach, a magazine editor, and a production coordinator for film and television. Born in Great Britain and raised in Canada, he now lives with his wife in London, England. For more, please visit www.RobertPaulWeston.com.