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

Namaya reads his poem at its conclusion.

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photo by Carl Van Vechten/Library of Congress

 

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Dig: Dag: Dug: While Digging the Scene

Meanwhile, digging
the scene
………….a sultry

walking hip-step
bop that
fell to the
sweetest

……………..moody!
……………………..melody in
…………………………a shiftless
……………………………..sort of way.

while lying there
stretched out on
the lawn of imagination
idly enjoying her reverie
as an unaffiliated
…………………………..A♭
not belonging to
……………the union
nor held to the standards
……………of the tribe.

Shiftless roaming
……………that opened the band
wide to the
……………exaltation of desire

In her buxom
…jelly roll brown sugar
………..shaking and baking
…………………kind of love

did a slow grinding adagio
…………….in
………………………E♭ flat recumbency
a throaty growling roll
…………….where lust like a dusky
evening in the delta of Mississippi

settled in on the front porch of
…………….a shack weighted down by moss

blues played in
…………….an E to A7 and B7 that
…………………………just wouldn’t quit.

Eased the weariness of the soul
…………….like well-aged bourbon.

B flat that held the memory
…………….of the voyage out of exile,
……………………cotton fields and
the ghosts of an old trumpet
……….blowing the horn slightly
……………………out of tune in the
call and response of love

……….lingering in the bayous.

But a B flat in its peaceful
……….bones is always
restless to dig in with the band

find its way back to
……….the soaring F minor 7
……….in its restless melodic search
……….……….for self.

The blues of
……….exile, the voyage of redemption,
……….……….the tale of love and redemption

Love.

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Listen to Namaya read his poem

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Namaya – is the “Jazz Poet.”  He is the co-founder and performer with the Jazz Beat Blues Poetry Ensemble that has toured throughout the United States and  Europe, and he has performed on five continents. He wrote and produced the play “The Beatnik Café: A Musical Revue of the Jazz Beat Generation,” that was presented in New York City and New England. This poems is part of the series, “Jazz in the Key of Ku”

Visit his website by clicking here

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Listen to the 1925 recording of Bessie Smith performing “Careless Love Blues”

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Click here  to view previous editions of The Sunday Poem

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Click here  for information about how to submit your poetry

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