THE BIRTH OF JAZZ
Syncopated sounds
mingle in bayous,
roll with Mississippi currents,
splash in Lake Pontchartrain.
The haunting melody
sleeps in pine forests,
nestles in the cypress,
sways with willows,
stands with oaks.
Alternating tempos
swim on ‘gator tails,
wade delta inlets
on great blue heron legs,
slither with snakes,
splash among mullet.
Rhythm-free as a tarpon-
soars with eagles,
wails on the hurricane.
Centuries of Spanish and French
searched in vain
to capture the elusive music.
Biding its own time,
the song
would pound through lowlands
on throbbing native drums,
echo around cotton fields
from soulful Negro lungs,
hide in marsh channels
to sail with cutthroat pirates,
dance in one room houseboats
on lively Cajun fiddles.
Conjured in voodoo hearts,
forged in wrought iron,
caught by steel-eyed fishermen,
brought to Storyville brothels,
French Quarter bars
and Dixieland dance halls,
a new sound is born.
The land and its people
cry the blues,
create the miracle
of Jazz!
_____
Love this celebration and roots of Jazz!
There’s more to this work than being ‘just a poem’. It is atmospheric, bringing to life the sounds and scents that created Jazz. Also brought vividly to life are the forests, the deltas, people and wildlife. One’s imagination can really ‘live’ this!
Very deep but true. Good job
Very deep and interesting words that created Jazz.
Wait…did I just read this? Because my memory just recorded it as super cool,realistically animated music video.
Artisticly and hauntingly stirring !
Beautiful poem. The author is an artist painting with words. I really enjoyed the snapshot of our rich heritage with Jazz. Well done!
A vivid and musical journey through the pen of a passionate poet.
You took me on a journey through my homeland,re introduced me to music I love in a whole new way. Wow, you really can write. Kudos.
Another highly textural poem to define feelings and longings of the masses. Great stuff.
Great to read aloud. It creates the music and the rhythm effortlessly. It can be felt even by people with no rhythm, like me.
I hear spontaneous, tuneful phrasing in “The Birth of Jazz”. Congratulations on a “Movin’ and Shakin'” poem, Ray! – K. L. Burns
Russell,
I truly enjoyed your poem. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.
You left no stone unturned–
you took us through each step
taken by All of Life in Louisiana
to describe this sacred journey–
Jazz finding her way to
what would be her Home.
Amazing.
Blessings,
Velma