Solo

by Kwame Alexander

  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!