The blues is one of the most captivating musical genres. The genre originated in the late 1800s as a method used by African American slaves to express their circumstances and to place emphasis on their feelings and emotions. To create these feelings in this music, blues artists incorporate many of the same techniques used to write poetry. One of the most easily identifiable songs where it is easy to see the relationship between poetic elements and blues music is the song “Empty Bed Blues” by Bessie Smith. The lyrics to “Empty Bed Blues,” when not sung, appear to be ordinary poetry. But when performed, the lyrics transform into a powerful and meaningful blues song. Bessie Smith is one of the best known and most influential blues singers of the 1920s. By incorporating poetic devices into her song lyrics, Bessie is able to better portray her attitudes and emotions to the audience. Using the elements of imagery, rhyme, repetition and word choice normally found in the blues, it allows the audience to gain more insight into their current situation...