Janis Joplin is singing with Big Brother in the Panhandle and almost everybody is high and it is a pretty nice Sunday afternoon.
Joan Didion, Slouching Towards Bethlehem
It’s raining outside and Janis is missing
she pours Southern Comfort into a cup
she smiles
she speaks of ambition
it’s not about money, she says,
or position,
it’s for love, she says,
lots of love and Janis is broken
she pours Southern Comfort into the holes
but up on the stage
she is sharp-eyed and fearsome
like some great bird of prey
love she says
her song in their eyes
lots of love
it’s raining inside where Janis is broken
she pours Southern Comfort
and Janis smiles,
it's not about money,
it's love and ambition,
and it burns and it's warm
where Janis is missing.