The Sunday Poem: “Blues For Archie Shepp” by Joe Kidd

October 8th, 2023

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

Joe Kidd reads his poem at its conclusion.

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photo by Brian McMillen/Wikimedia Commons

Brian McMillen Photography: Saxophone/Reeds &emdash; Archie Shepp

Archie Shepp at Keystone Korner, San Francisco, August 19, 1982

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Blues For Archie Shepp

Ce soir l’anniversaire
we defeat the oppressor
with our horns, our magic
here to bury us or set us free

the serpent holds it’s breath
explodes, bends the notes
a New York penitentiary
a Parisian whorehouse
a home in Detroit burned to the ground

the archer, the shepherd
the liberator of souls
the opium, the jazz, the common man
the army of truth got your back
the teacher, the tenor, believe me
I saw you all there shining
the light trying to catch you, one body, one vibe

Malcolm holding, withholding, with holes
what does it sound like when you’re asleep
it hurt when the riot and the sky caved upon us
but together we stood
between the waters and the reeds

blind witch doctors conjured gold
to pay for love and the back up band
creation, cremation, we all have the blues

tu nous as fumé et nous a tous époustouflés

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Listen to Joe Kidd read his poem

 

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photo by Sheila Burke

Joe Kidd is a published poet and songwriter. In 2015 he released the CD titled Everybody Has A Purpose, and in 2020 published The Invisible Waterhole, a collection of spiritual and sensual verse. Joe is a member of the National & International Beat Poet Foundation (USA), Angora Poets (Paris France), The Society of Classical Poets, and 100,000 Poets For Change International. In 2022 he was appointed Beat Poet Laureate of the State of Michigan 2022-2024. He was recently recognized as an Official Poet of the Government of Birdland. Joe was inducted into the Michigan Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in June 2017.

Click here to visit his website

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Listen to the 1969 recording of Archie Shepp performing “Poem for Malcolm,” with Shepp (soprano saxophone, recitation); Burton Greene (piano); Alan Silva (bass); Philly Joe Jones and Claude Delcloo (drums).  [The Orchard]

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Click here to read previous editions of  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

Click here to help support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)

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