Black is the color of my true love’s hair
and Marlon Brando’s motorcycle jacket,
each tooth a silver zipper.
Black is the color of roadies
drinking beer down the street
at the Big Dipper.
Black is the color of Johnny Cash
who kept praying for ‘Nam
to be over in a flicker.
Black is the color of T-shirts
of high-tech workers
designing glass slippers.
Black is the color of a woman
stoned on a red carpet
because a veil didn’t fit her.
Black is the color of people who fade
behind the sidelines of center stage.
Black is the color of our grueling age.
Chorus:
And sorry, I drive a Ferrari.
Bob Dylan (or insert another name)
didn’t wear black to the Grammys.
He wore gold.