“Etta James Sings” – a poem by Catherine Perkins

September 9th, 2026

Etta James Sings

Don’t Cry Baby …come on sweet heart let’s try over again …don’t cry baby, dry your eyes*

while I research the words dapocaginous (dop-uh-COG-in-ous)
meaning mean-spirited and demonocracy and kakistocracy
and despotocracy and autocracy and plutocracy and I cry and cry
and can’t stop because I know these words exist because these forms
of governing have been, are and might be again and I know trying over
might lead to the same old thing and I know there’s more than meets
the eye and lies are spewed in order to elicit actions autocrats, despots,
oligarchs, monarchs, and dictators want.

My tired old heart is losing the will to pump and I want to speak out
about all the times when politicians did or said something heinous,
ordered and orchestrated wars, killings and over-throwings for non-ethical
reasons and the leaders who can barely speak English, correctly or whose speeches go off script,
but I don’t because most people won’t listen. Instead, I endure the status quo, vote for change and try to dry the crocodile tears teeming from my eyes.

I hear rants from those who love and those who hate the current state,
but see only a few who walk-the-walk, run on public election slates.
And oh, my dear Etta, how I cry when I hear buffoonish idiocrasy’s
spoken words—spurred by Lord only knows who, what or why.
If I spouted off in such evil ways, I’d be deemed insane.

Oh, how I wish I could die before the anarchy and animosity
eat me alive, fill my gullet with more distrust and poison
that fattens and starves, simultaneously.

I blubber sobs of agony because I’m part of the problem.
You see, even though slightly demented and delusional
I’m not crazy or greedy enough to want to be president.

Etta’s song loops Don’t cry baby, don’t cry baby
and I plead, Etta, please help me.

*lyrics by Saul Bernie/Stella Unger/James P. Johnson

Listen to Catherine Perkins read her poem

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Catherine Perkins, longtime resident of Kentucky, is the author of Udder Uproar, a full-length collection of profound and sometimes humorous poetry. She shares a home and business with her partner and husband of 34 years. Catherine claims she was bottle fed on jazz and blues and that her mother cooked delicious fusions of music and food. Catherine enjoys creating succulent poems using sounds of swing and words for spice and zing.

Listen to the 1961 recording of Etta James performing the Saul Bernie/Stella Unger/James P. Johnson composition “Don’t Cry Baby.” [Universal Music Group]

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