Poet Jack Douthitt writes these poems in “tanka” form (similar to haiku but five lines instead of three).
The first line is the name of the artist, the second line is the name of the song, and the third line is the name of the album (if applicable). Each five line poem then follows.
“Modern Jazz Quartet” and Dizzy Gillespie appear in Douthitt’s chapbook Riffin’ Around.
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Gerry Mulligan
My Funny Valentine
What is There to Say?
Swinging baritone sax
soaring trumpet
wrap my
funny valentine
in cool love
_____________________
Modern Jazz Quartet
Blues in C Minor
Blues on Bach
opening riff
shakes Bach
stirs us
into a dry
martini
_____________________
Dizzy Gillespie
Salt Peanuts
Cheeks puff out
trumpets scream…
peanuts
never sounded
so good
_________
Jack Douthitt is the author of the non-fiction book Bonsai – The Art of Living Sculpture published by Rizzoli International in 2001. In 1987 he was recognized as “One of Americas Outstanding Bonsai Artists” by the National Bonsai Foundation. His prose fiction has been published in Out of Line, Rosebud, Flash Fiction Fridays, and heard on Milwaukee Public Radio. His poetry has been featured on The Song Is, and published in a chapbook titled Riffin’ Around. In 2015 he appeared in the Milwaukee production of “Listen to Your Mother.” He lives in Milwaukee WI with his bonsai and his wife, Michelle.
