Langston Hughes and Billie Holiday

Song for Billie Holiday

What can purge my heart
Of the song
And the sadness?
What can purge my heart
Of the song
And the sadness?
What can purge my heart
Of the song
And the sadness?

Do not speak of sorrow
With dust in her hair,
Or bits of dust in eyes
A chance wind blew there.
The sorrow that I speak of
Is dusted with despair.

Voice of muted trumpet,
Cold brass in warm air.
Bitter television blurred
By sound that shimmers –
Where?

By Langston Hughes

Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain.

Billie Holiday