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“Poster #4” by Robert Hecht
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Summer Love
Blossom Dearie sings Mad About The Boy.
Her fingers quicken over black & white bars.
A young man & woman fall in love during summer.
Moon climbs up the mountain, lips quiver
during their first kiss under stars.
After the thrill of skin embracing skin
coolness of winds brush apple trees.
He doesn’t hold her hand any more.
He smiles only at strangers.
She sits by the fireplace
on the sofa, sips mint tea.
Eyes gaze at colors
red, & yellow falling.
She longs for his touch,
curls up with the melody.
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Jerrice J. Baptiste is an author of eight books. She has been published in Eco Theo Review; Mantis; The Yale Review; Lolwe; Penumbra Literary Magazine and many others. Her poetry has been featured on the Grammy Award winning album: Many Hands Family Music for Haiti. Jerrice teaches poetry where she lives in NY.
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Bob Hecht is a resident of Portland, Oregon, and a frequent contributor to Jerry Jazz Musician. A selection of his photography can be found at his website by clicking here.
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Listen to the 1966 recording of Blossom Dearie singing “Mad About the Boy”
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A lovely poem. A skillfully controlled narrative voice, wonderful control of diction, and imagery that is perfect for the poem. (By the way, the artwork is also a pleasure to view.) Jerrice Baptiste is one fine poet. I look forward to reading much more of her work.