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

Laurie Kuntz reads her poem at its conclusion.

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photo via RawPixel.com

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Style

Your father and I admonished you
for walking ahead on the craggy mountain ridge.

You defended your eager steps,
saying you were musing
on the musical styles
of Mingus, Parker, and Shorter,
leaving your parents stymied
by the unfamiliar refrains of rugged hills and curves —
in a slippery moment, chide turned to philosophy.

On top of a mountain, you professed to one thing:

Everyone’s style becomes familiar —
the blooming seasons of my poetry,
a worn pedestrian sole.

After 20 years of weaving your life
into draping wisteria and waning moons,
You now want to see the butterfly —

Mortar, pestle, sulfur,
……………………………………vinegar and brine
………………………………………………………………..ground to chrysalis.

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Listen to Laurie Kuntz read her poem

 

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Laurie Kuntz’s books are:  That Infinite Roar (Gyroscope Press);  Talking Me Off The Roof  (Kelsay Books);  The Moon Over My Mother’s House (Finishing Line Press);  Simple  Gestures (Texas Review Press);  Women at the Onsen (Blue Light Press); and  Somewhere in the Telling (Mellen Press).  Simple  Gestures, won Texas Review’s  Chapbook Contest, and  Women at the Onsen  won  Blue Light Press’ Chapbook Contest.   She’s been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes and two Best of the Net Prizes. Her work has been published in Gyroscope Review, Roanoke Review, Third Wednesday, One Art, Sheila Na Gig, and other journals.

Click here to visit her website

 

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Listen to the 1964 recording of saxophonist Wayne Shorter performing “Night Dreamer,” with Lee Morgan (trumpet); McCoy Tyner (piano); Reggie Workman (bass); and Elvin Jones (drums).  [Universal Music Group]

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Click here to read previous editions of The Sunday Poem

Click here to read “A Collection of Jazz Poetry – Winter, 2024 Edition”

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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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced (and AI-free) since 1999

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