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AncientHippie
Member

since 2009-10-15

Posts 411
Surfing the Cosmic Flow

0 posted 2009-10-19 08:35 AM

The mellow sound
of his alto sax
suffused
the pedestrian mall
with the echo
of a gentler
time.

Several older listeners
thought of Charlie Parker,
of Stan Getz,
and of the magical freedom
jazz bestows
on the human
soul.

His worn Stetson
accepted the tribute
of coins
that could not begin
to feed the hunger
behind
his scarred arms.

He plays
as though his spirit
was aflame,
the difficulty of his
methadone treatment
and his worsening Hep C
forgotten.

He smiles
as several of his listeners
break into applause,
just before
tone-deaf Mall Security
roughly tells him
to move along.

* "Body and Soul" is the title of a recording made in 1939 by Coleman Hawkins that became THE model for later jazz solos on all instruments.

Sutra 4: Do not expect your Path to be smooth. It will have rocks, slippery portions, and parts that are washed away completely. Persevere.

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

1 posted 2009-10-19 11:02 AM

Your poetic "blues" are music to my eyes. Thanks again Jim.~L

Indigo
Senior Member

since 2001-05-17

Posts 602

2 posted 2009-10-19 04:26 PM

old ghosts of Miles, Monk;
his harmonic structure
now deconstructed.

Dug this immensely, AP!
Indigo

young_blood
Senior Member

since 2003-09-19

Posts 1115
Indianapolis, IN

3 posted 2009-10-19 04:29 PM

I understand this well. I've played with several street musicians and this is accurate for many of them. Thanks.

Namyh
Senior Member

since 2009-01-20

Posts 988

4 posted 2009-10-19 05:30 PM

AncientHippie - Now this takes this old poet's soul back a ways. Parker, Getz, Monk and a lot others heralded moment's of music when music talked to you and said something. I loved this AncientHippie from an admirer of those days when. Loved this. Thanks. Namyh

AncientHippie
Member

since 2009-10-15

Posts 411
Surfing the Cosmic Flow

5 posted 2009-10-19 05:44 PM

Lori, thank you so much.
Indigo;  I had Thelonius in mind while writing this.  Glad you enjoyed.
youngblood:  This is a piece from my collection, "Anger in the Street," so you were bang on with your reference to street musicians.  My very great pleasure to write it.
Namyh:  Glad I could transport you back for a moment.  I spend a lot of my time "back in the day."  I am, after all, an "ancient" hippie.
Cheers all.

Sutra 4: Do not expect your Path to be smooth. It will have rocks, slippery portions, and parts that are washed away completely. Persevere.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

6 posted 2009-10-20 02:35 PM

You make me miss New Orleans. *S* Great write!!

AncientHippie
Member

since 2009-10-15

Posts 411
Surfing the Cosmic Flow

7 posted 2009-10-21 08:37 AM

Suthern: Thank you. Jazz is magic, and New Orleans is its home.

Sutra 6: If your Path seems to be sprinkled with shards of glass, you should examine each shard to ensure it is not a diamond.

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

8 posted 2009-10-23 06:24 PM

So vivid, so melancholically real, so poignant.

Highly appreciated this work of yours.

Love,
Margherita

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