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“A New World Coming (For Duke Ellington)” — a poem by Erren Kelly

May 31st, 2020

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photo by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress

Duke Ellington; June, 1946

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A New World Coming
……………………………….(for Duke Ellington)

no wars
……no greed
no famine
……no disease

……………just rainbows
…………………………and blessings

falling out of the sky

dolphins swimming carelessly in

…………………………………blue
……………………………………….clear
………………………………………………water

dawns glorious enough to make you sigh

no more days when children go
unfed

everyone will have a home
and a place to lay their
head

what a lovely sight, seeing dictators
on their knees

…………….and blacks and whites loving
each other

like piano keys

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Erren Kelly is a two-time Pushcart nominated poet from Boston whose work has appeared in 300 publications (print and online), including Hiram Poetry Review, Mudfish, Poetry Magazine, Ceremony, Cacti Fur, Bitterzoet, Cactus Heart, Similar Peaks, Gloom Cupboard, .and .Poetry Salzburg.

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Listen to Duke Ellington play a solo medley on the piano…featuring “Black and Tan Fantasy,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” “Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me” and “Caravan,” from the 1972 album Live at the Whitney

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Tags: duke ellington, Erren Kelly, jazz, jazz poetry

One comments on ““A New World Coming (For Duke Ellington)” — a poem by Erren Kelly”

Susandale says:

June 13, 2020 at 1:16 pm

I love this poem … the rhythm, the wishes. Oh, if only ….

Reply

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