For my second reflection I researched Robert Johnson, specifically his rise to fame and the peak of his powers. It was fascinating to research with so little actually known about him it was interesting to see all of the speculation pieces. In the end I decided to adapt the poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou and I really tried to write it from his perspective, and tried to infuse some of his opinions and some of my own into it, so you can read it and see how I did.

The women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the guitar I play
The pick I play with
The guy I met at the crossroads
The stuff the devil gave me
I’m Robert Johnson
No soul
Devil in the man
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And as I perform,
The women stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s in the guitar I play
The pick I play with
The guy I met at the crossroads
The stuff the devil gave me
I’m Robert Johnson
No soul
Devil in the man
That’s me.

The women themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the guitar I play
The pick I play with
The guy I met at the crossroads
The stuff the devil gave me
I’m Robert Johnson
No soul
Devil in the man
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or dance about
Or have to sing real loud.
When you see me performing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the guitar I play
The pick I play with
The guy I met at the crossroads
The stuff the devil gave me
I’m Robert Johnson
No soul
Devil in the man
That’s me.

Thanks for reading, see you next time.