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

Michael Baldwin reads his poem at its conclusion.

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photo of Charlie Parker by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress/adapted by Rhonda R. Dorsett

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Jazz Riven

Derelict dark and smoke ghosts
…………coagulate expectancy
……………………among struggling silences.
Dumb dark sucks glances
…………of silver and gold
……………………from yet mute metal.
Distorted dark, gossamer
…………goblins, slink across the shine,
……………………emerge into the light as men,
………………………………dissolve into the dark again.
One shadow turns and murmurs,
…………takes a breath; an eternal instant
……………………finds its DEATH
IN A LIGHTNING STROKE
of sonic flame that violates the dark,
seizes the heart, suddenly swallows
everything!
Sound, solid and fluid
as avalanche smacks us with
marrow-harrowing rattle rhythm.
Engulfed as swimmers,
trembling, tumbling in the violent
stillness of a tidal wave.
The music is the only reality–
the only possibility,
and we, wombed in its totality.
Then the music erupts, ripping
many dimensions,
warping space and time.
Now the universe enfolds
its invisible origami,
so time swallows itself
and somewhen, God shivers
in Her sleep, dream-driven,
jazz-riven.

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Listen to Michael Baldwin read his poem

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Michael Baldwin is a retired library administrator and professor of American Government. He has published 7 volumes of poetry, two novels, and five volumes of science-fiction short stories. He is also a former amateur jazz clarinetist. His novel,  Murder Music,  follows several jazz musicians on a quest to solve the mystery of why one of them is a target for murder. Baldwin’s website is www.jmbaldwin.com

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Listen to the 1947 recording of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie performing Tad Dameron’s composition “Hot House,” with Al Haig (piano); Curley Russell (bass); and Sid Catlett (drums).  [Universal Music Group]

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Click for:

The Sunday Poem

More poetry on Jerry Jazz Musician

“Bluesette,” Salvatore Difalco’s winning story in the 67th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest

More short fiction on Jerry Jazz Musician

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