Special 20

A breath in the silence
Playing on the silver
Wailing the words of lost souls
Notes burning like a fire
Under molded hands
Moving fingers
Reed notes risin’ like the wind
Settin’ like the sun at night
Crying like the pain in the world
All together in a crowd
Listenin’
Playin’ on
Speaking the best way he knows
Sending his voice in the song

 

 

 

Jazz Baby

Just one more song.
That’s what she always asked for.
Even now,
Music is what she loves.
Notes, just notes.
And melodies and verses and bridges.

And songs.
Nobody can see them like her.
Nobody can hear them like her.
All the music lies at her feet
Waiting to be shaped
Read
Heard
Kites without tails, waiting for flight.

On the beat,
She dances free
Never straying
Always playing those jazz tunes
No xylophone,
No undertone
Just over and over again.

“Play that sax, man, play.”
His fingers moving on his keys
Singin’ that sweet melody.
No folk ever heard that music, sweet as she.

“Just one more song for me, sir.”
And the jazz notes would complete her
As she footstepped music
Into the night.

 

 

Musical Conversation

Two jazz players
Clarinet and saxophone
Play together.
Feet tapping
To the same beat
Hearts pulsing
The same rhythm
Again and again.
In their heads
A sweet silence
For music to ring and resound.
Melody and harmony
Twining together.
A mellow clarinetist
A chilled out cat on sax
Playing
Just like speaking
Friends hangin’ out
On the street corner.