Purge


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

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

Voice of muted trumpet.
Cold brass in warm air.
Bitter television blurred
By song that shimmers-
   Where?
Langston Hughes, Song for Billy Holiday

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