Precious memories
Fade like grass they say
All my memories
Of you are fresh as yesterday
I’d trade the best years of my life
For one hour of your time
But that gets tricky, I’d get greedy
And try to keep you by my side
I need you like a heart needs blood to flow
I need you like a tree needs sun to grow
All the silly, little games we used to play
A Sunny life fading to gray
But I know I’m not alone again
I know I always can depend
On the times I hear
Your laughter in the wind
You promised to take care of me
And in the times I cannot see
I feel your presence here with me always
At this moment, I wish you were here
When my name is called I’d love
To feel embarrassed by your cheers
I’ll still march on, holding my head high
Because of who you were and how you loved me
I know I will survive
You smiled in hard times and danced in the rain
You loved and lived so hard no one can complain
But I miss you, and I miss you
Precious memories
fade like grass they say
All our memories
Of you are fresh as yesterday
I’d trade the best years of my life
for one hour of your cries
But that gets tricky, you start winking,
I get lost inside your eyes
But I know I’m not solo again
I know I always can depend
On the times I hear
Your laughter in the wind
We promise to take care of you
But now it’s time for something new
Your presence will encourage us always
You smiled in hard times and danced in the rain
You loved and lived so hard no one can complain
But we miss you, and I miss you
© BLADE MORRISON
I sing
for Sunny,
for precious memories
of laughter and love.
I sing for Sia,
little Blackbird
flying free.
I sing for Lucy.
Auntie. Mother. New shape of my heart.
I sing
for Storm and Joy.
For Robert,
my graduation class,
and even Chapel.
I sing for my father
and all the people
who have
given me something
to live for.
But, most of all
I sing
for myself.
The spider
I’m finally
ready
to face.
I play the song
inside
that’s been waiting
for me to listen.
The one I’m finally ready
to hear.
Acknowledgments
This book is our love letter to rock and roll. We had a blast remembering the music that shaped our young lives, and writing Solo. We are grateful for the many people who offered encouragement along the way: Arielle Eckstut (agent and business partner extraordinaire), Annette Bourland, Londa Alderink, Sara Merritt, Liane Worthington, and Denise Froehlich (the super stellar Blink team), Jacque Alberta (wise editorial sage), Ann Marie Stephens, Sue Fliess, and Tinesha Davis (our devoted and opinionated writing “band”), Randy Preston (our awesome song and melody maker), Lezlie Evans (who brought us together), Owen Tharrington (who got his little sister hooked on KISS at age three), Mike and Becky York (our generous and patient writing retreat hosts), Juanita Britton (who introduced us to Ghana, and its beautiful people), and Emefa Ansah (who exemplifies hope). We thank our supportive families, who make sure we never have to roll solo.
Finally, thanks to YOU for checking out Solo. To find out more information on Kwame’s literacy efforts in Ghana, visit LeapforGhana.org; to find out more about how you can help fight malaria, visit Malarianomore.org; and to listen to some of Blade’s music, visit KwameAlexander.com/SoloMusicBonus.
Rock ’n’ Roll, Baby!
Solo Page 19
