Four poets, four short jazz poems

January 5th, 2023

“At Last,” by Russell duPont

Straight Ahead Jazz

Waiting for Straight Ahead Jazz to start
On the community radio station
To spark the juices

When the trumpet hits
the first few notes:
Poetry ignites

by Jim Mello

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M. D.

I thought I heard
Miles Davis say

‘Let white folk
Take the Blues

We sure had ‘em
Long enough’

by Bernard Saint

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.
A Short Poem For Lady Day

In the beginning was the song,
and the song was Billie.
The sweet moan, the catch in her throat,
the sound of sixty-dollar Scotch straight up
and no ice.

by Molly Larson Cook

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Love Is A Thing So They Say

Heart at ache.
Your song in flight reaching beyond
my dim lit room. Each breath saturates air.

I heard the sorrowful red hummingbird at dusk.
It too flew in sky again that love should be there.

You, me, and bird, no purpose of tears.
For whatever each night may bloom.

by Jerrice J. Baptiste

Editors note: An extensive collection of short jazz poetry — all seven lines or fewer — will be published in January, 2023

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photo by Alice Mello

Jim Mello is a counselor and clinical supervisor in the substance use disorder field. He has published three books of poetry.

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Bernard Saint is a U.K. poet who has published in U.K. and United States literary magazines since the 1960’s.

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Molly Larson Cook is an award-winning Oregon writer, writing coach, and artist.

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Jerrice J. Baptiste has authored eight books, and is a poet in residence at the Prattsville Art Center & Residency in New York.

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Russell duPont is an artist and author whose artwork is included in a number of public and private collections. He has published two novels, two books of poetry; and two non-fiction chapbooks.