The Sunday Poem: “Blue Ash” by Sean Howard

August 6th, 2023

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The Sunday Poem  is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.

Sean Howard reads his poem at its conclusion.

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photo via PxFuel

photo via PxFuel

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blue ash (free poems in nine parts, for john coltrane & rashied ali)

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i……………………………………………………………………….iii

free,……………………………………………………………….high time
what………………………………………………………………debating
bars?……………………………………………………………..society

intra-…………………………………………………………….no more
views,…………………………………………………………….composed
posit-…………………………………………………………….audiences!
ions
o-…………………………………………………………………..ink-
pen………………………………………………………………..br-
………………………………………………………………………ush,
nesting in………………………………………………………per-
the Cliffs………………………………………………………..cuss-
of sound……………………………………………………………

ii…………………………………………………………………….iv

chords-………………………………………………………….the way
statues,………………………………………………………….beyond
practiced………………………………………………………..Order
gestures
………………………………………………………………………going
moments;………………………………………………………light
issues…………………………………………………………….on
……………………………………………………………………..si-
distance………………………………………………………..len-
bells mel-……………………………………………………..ce
ting
………………………………………………………………………ascending
………………………………………………………………………no more
………………………………………………………………………scaling
…………………………………………………………………………

v……………………………………………………………………..vii

oh,………………………………………………………………….wind-
the………………………………………………………………….chime
In……………………………………………………………………be-
voi-………………………………………………………………..pop
ce
!……………………………………………………………………..god’s
………………………………………………………………………posthumous
the prisoners’…………………………………………………release?
radical
departure………………………………………………………un-
………………………………………………………………………done
emp-……………………………………………………………..Time
tying,
self-………………………………………………………………viii
sand…
………………………………………………………………………music
vi……………………………………………………………………incidental
………………………………………………………………………to the stars?
refusing to stay
stuck in…………………………………………………………Power
jam……………………………………………………………….nowhere
……………………………………………………………………..near enough
the
Supreme……………………………………………………….jazz
caught?…………………………………………………………black
……………………………………………………………………..flag
unrolling
america’s……………………………………………………..ix
thunder
……………………………………………………………………..in the beginning
……………………………………………………………………..was the
……………………………………………………………………..rest

…………………………………………………………………….held keys
……………………………………………………………………?blue
……………………………………………………………………ash

……………………………………………………………………revelation
……………………………………………………………………the image
……………………………………………………………………of reality

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Listen to Sean Howard read his poem (followed by dialogue about this work)

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Sean Howard is the author of six books of poetry, most recently Trinity: Tribute Sequences for Robert Graves  (Gaspereau Press, Canada, 2022). Sean’s poetry has been widely published in Canada, the US, UK, and elsewhere, and featured in The Best of the Best Canadian Poetry in English (Tightrope Books, 2017). Sean is adjunct professor of political science at Cape Breton University, and writes a monthly ‘War & Peace’ column for the Cape Breton Spectator. He can be reached at  [email protected].

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Listen to the 1967 recording of John Coltrane and drummer Rashied Ali performing “Jupiter,” from the album  Interstellar Space  [Universal Music Group]

 

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Click here to read The Sunday Poem

Click here for information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction

Click here to subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter

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