Low Rent Blues ...

Poem for Hazel's prompt...

Found a place on Craigslist, rent too good to be true,

Four hundred a month in the city—what's a broke soul to do?

Landlord's hands were shaking when he handed me the key,

Said "Just ignore the noises, son, and let the shadows be."

Oh, I got those low rent blues,

Cheap living with a supernatural bruise,

When the price ain't right, something ain't right,

Got those low, low rent blues.

First night in my new digs, thought I heard the floor creak,

Blamed it on the building settling, old wood made to speak.

But the footsteps kept on walking when I knew I was alone,

And the temperature kept dropping like I lived in the Twilight Zone.

Oh, I got those low rent blues,

Bargain basement ghosts singing the news,

When you pay dirt cheap, spirits run deep,

Got those low, low rent blues.

Dishes started rattling without a soul in sight,

Pictures on the wall kept tilting left all through the night.

Tried to take a shower but the water turned to ice,

And a voice whispered softly, "Boy, you're gonna pay the price."

Oh, I got those low rent blues,

Haunted house discount, nothing left to lose,

Thought I caught a deal, but the deal ain't real,

Got those low, low rent blues.

Should have known that bargain came with strings attached,

Should have read the fine print, should have kept my wallet latched.

'Cause every cheap apartment's got a reason for the rate—

Sometimes it's bad plumbing, sometimes it's spectral fate.

Now I got those low rent blues,

Living with the dead, paying phantom dues,

When the rent's too low, there's more you should know,

Got those low, low, supernatural blues.

So if you see an ad that makes your wallet sing with glee,

Remember my sad story and what happened here to me.

'Cause the cheapest place in town might cost you more than gold—

When you're sharing space with spirits and their stories need be told.

Don't get those low rent blues,

Question every bargain, read between the clues,

When the price ain't right, check twice for the light,

Don't get those low, low rent blues.

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