Jerrice J. Baptiste’s 2025 Jazz Poetry Calendar

December 31st, 2024

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photo of Charlie Parker by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress; Design by Rhonda R. Dorsett

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Dear Readers…Welcome to 2025!

…..The poems of Haitian-born and current Hudson Valley, New York resident Jerrice J. Baptiste frequently activate readers’ far-flung imaginations, and transport them to places of emotional awareness, depth, and love.  They are elegantly sparse, moving, and romantic, and seamlessly connect her language to music and, often, to the calendar.

…..Earlier this year she submitted a poem, “September Song,” that linked a longing for romantic love with the colors of the changing season, inspiring me to imagine a musical companion to it – Tony Bennett’s  “Maybe September.”  Last December, her delicately crafted short poem “That’s What I Want For Christmas” interpreted the Nancy Wilson  recording, providing an avenue to be reminded of the legendary singer’s playful (and under-exposed) holiday song.

…..It became clear to me that, given the chance, Jerrice could be inspired to write a poem dedicated to every month of the year, providing readers an extensive glimpse at her gifts, and allowing me an opportunity to interpret the poems with images and music.

…..Thus, this 12-month 2025 calendar of jazz poetry, courtesy of Jerrice, winds through the upcoming year with her poetic grace while inviting us to wander through music by the likes of Hoagy Carmichael, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sarah Vaughan,  Melody Gardot and Charlie Parker.   Each poem is read by Jerrice, and is also accompanied by an image and song I chose to interpret it.

….It is with pride that I begin my 2025 journey editing  Jerry Jazz Musician by presenting Jerrice’s jazz poetry calendar.

I hope you enjoy…

Sincerely,

Joe Maita

Editor/Publisher

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Readers can click to the next month at the conclusion of each poem.  You can also go to each month by clicking on the months here:

Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec/Intro

 

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Click here to read Jerrice’s poem for January

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Jerrice  J. Baptiste  is a poet and author of nine books, Her most recent poetry book  Coral in The Diaspora  is published by Abode Press (August 2024). She’s been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize (2024 & 2025), and Best of the Net in 2022.   Jerrice‘s poems and collaborative songwriting are featured on the Grammy nominated album Many Hands Family Music for Haiti.

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Click here to read Jerrice’s poem for January

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26 comments on “Jerrice J. Baptiste’s 2025 Jazz Poetry Calendar”

    1. Thank you Joanne for expressing your joy for this Jazz Poetry Calendar! Yes, I agree it’s a great start to the New Year! I do hope you get to explore as many of the poems, songs & photographs as possible!
      Thanks for commenting! Best wishes, Jerrice

      Reply

  4. This poem is sensual and captivating it makes me want to listen to this jazz song. thank you for putting it in towards what I feel are strong emotions.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Emmanuel for reading, listening, reflecting, commenting on our Jazz Poetry Calendar!
      An abundance of gratitude for your beautiful words written here!
      Best wishes, Jerrice

      Reply

  6. A really lovely concept, Joe and Jerrice…I’m looking forward to reading what each month of 2025 inspires!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Connie!
      Joe was amazing is his vision for this poetry calendar project! It’s been a true collaboration!
      I feel blessed! You can read each poem here on this website for each month! Thanks for commenting!
      Best wishes, Jerrice

      Reply

  7. I love your visual use of color and your cool sensations of wind and rain. Your words show the essence of changes in time. Very befitting of a calendar with the monthly honor of the representatives of jazz. Concrete and real.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Mary!

      This wonderful project has given me the opportunity to capture & express what I feel when I listen to Jazz!

      Thanks for reading & listening!
      Best wishes for the new year!
      Jerrice

      Reply

    1. Thank you Carolyn!
      Jazz is a gift and I feel grateful that my poetry can be a gift through which jazz can be appreciated even more!!
      Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! I appreciate it!
      Best wishes, Jerrice

      Reply

    1. Merci beaucoup Roodly!
      C’est un grand joie d’etre ton inspiration!
      C’est magnifique ton compliment! Jerrice

      Reply

    1. Thanks so much Catherine! I’m glad you could feel the summer season and its beauty through my poem. Thanks for taking the time to read & enjoy it! Best wishes, Jerrice

      Reply

  14. Wow. Such a powerful poem, Jerrice. I love the unveiling of details about your and your partner’s emotional states through such beautiful imagery. The way the story unfolded was captivating — it kept me reaching for the next line to figure out what was going on, and to see how it would resolve. I love that the resolution to such scary possibilities was found not just by the doctor saying they didn’t find anything wrong, but also through mindful walks in nature. Such an important lesson that anyone can benefit from learning– how to move through difficult emotions using presence of mind.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Allison! I’m glad you were so moved by my poem “August Blues” and that you learned so much from it. How nature can be a source of healing for all of us. I’m thrilled the imagery was powerful and suspenseful! Thanks for reading, listening and commenting! Happy New year!
      Jerrice

      Reply

  15. So beautiful! The journey of falling in love: from thawing the jaded ponds of your heart to breaking free from icy borders to let rushing waters of love be free — to finally let the love not only in, but to let all the love within yourself out. I also love the imagery of the heart described as “red chambers”, it evokes such truth in the matters of the heart: the heart is not just a completed puzzle handed to a lover, it is something to explore in the process of loving, if you are granted that entrance to the “red chambers”. Stunning, Jerrice.

    Reply

  16. “November Affair” is so intimate and laced with such visceral details that I can really picture and feel this moment in time. What a lovely depiction of a slow, lovely evening.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Allison for reading my poem “November Affair.” I appreciate your presence of mind to grasp the details of language, and imagery. It is a complex poem, I’m grateful it touched you so much!
      Best wishes, Jerrice

      Reply

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