Dylan Poetry Showcase from Elizabeth Cusack

Little Girl

Little girl had an answer
Wasn’t she cute
You bought her a leopard-skin suit

She got the blues
She was too far gone
She wasted it all for you

No worries, darling
There’s plenty of air
Back there somewhere

I hear parrots 
From inside your cage
Shouldn’t you be going somewhere

Her head’s in a cloud
Her hope’s run out
She’s living in the seaweed now

You Know Me

You know me, I’m singing
Way down in lonely town
Feeling the bite
High as a kite
Wanting more of your time
Never being satisfied
Burning fuel like it’s out of style
Waiting for the turn-style
Waiting for the switch in the yard
Waiting for a crossing guard
Waving my plane just out of range

I did not take apart the gate
When love came dancing down
She came in like a ton of bricks
I laid back and took the licks
I did not know there
Could be such joy
I did not understand
Love is like a rubber band
It can snap
It can tear
It can fit anywhere
It can wear thin
It can twist and turn
It can strangle

However hot or overwrought
You may become or be
I am here
Like the geese on the floating sea.

Another Lover

Leave if you will 
The most convenient way
I don’t need it anyway
Who understands the play
Is there anything left to say

Howling at the moon
That won’t make it
One more night in Utah
I can make it
Is that what you’re thinking
Sounds alright
I’m not looking for a fight.


Highway Song

It’s Ten AM
I’m wasted again
I might crawl out of bed
Hit the street
Find something to eat
Write a rhyme
Commit a crime
Not folk rock, but never mind
A real soother
A blues-er, a boozer
Not a loser, a teaser
A pleaser, a honey-dripper
Something to piss-off the masses
Go out and buy cheap sunglasses
Grow out my hair
Till it’s fuzzy and kinkier
Like Ricki or Frankie Lee
It don’t matter, anyhow.


Straight Up

I was straight up against the wall
And I did not let it slide
You want to see some damage
Look at mine

Some hide behind religion
Knocking at your door
But they’ll get you if they can
Then they’ll want some more

I hear any day now
I will be released
I have got a number
Do not misconstrue me



I Contain Rock and Roll Multitudes

Riding shotgun in overdrive 
Little Susie by my side
You make me crazy Miss Lizzie 
The way that you drive
The Jack of Hearts just left town
He’s looking for another clown
Let’s go downtown anyhow
Let’s turn the music way up loud
Your Chevy’s got a brand-new sound
And you’ve got lots of time
Let’s drive this pony into the ground
It’s the fastest way out of town
In the desert of New Mexico
Or against the cliff in old Del Mar
I know where you’re going
And I know where you are
When you have time drop me a line
It’s the same old rhythm, the same old rhyme
I love you baby all the time
It’s the same old highway
It’s the same old sound
It’s the same old way out of town
The demon’s always screaming
There’s no way round
We’re one gearshift from eternity 
And just for a minute we’re looking so good
Let’s slide into another neighborhood
Pretty girls and pretty boys all fall down 
It don’t matter anyhow.

Old Bird

Like that old bird
Like that old flag
Once nearly free
Time wants to fold
Faded and proud
Frayed at the age
Battered around
Bleary and weary
With no way out
Brought to the ground
A train that’s gone
But not for me
I wait for release.



More Bob Dylan Inspired poems from Elizabeth Cusack (Poetry on the Rocks for Lonely Hearts)

Poetry on the Rocks for Lonely Hearts Submissions from Elizabeth Cusack (inspired by Bob Dylan)

Many more poems from Elizabeth Cusack (some Inspired by Bob Dylan)

Poetry Showcase from Elizabeth Cusack

Bio: Elizabeth Cusack is a recovering actress. Ever since playing Rhoda Penmark in “The Bad Seed” as a child, deservedly, she has endeavoured to keep up her end of the bargain. Elizabeth has been blessed with the best of teachers over the years, mostly from the school of hard knocks. She has championed and performed in fringe theatre in America. Elizabeth edits her favourite poet while not otherwise inspired by her muse to write.