rider leapfroggin over the Union Square El
rider leapfroggin over the Union Square El
atop bent trumpet
atop bent trumpet
fresh from decimatin the competition,
fresh from decimatin the competition,
this angel rainin visions
this angel rainin visions
strolls in from Philadelphia packin a struggle rhythm,
strolls in from Philadelphia packin a struggle rhythm,
blowin by the skins in lightnin 64th notes
blowin by the skins in lightnin 64th notes
pickpocketin the soaked drummer,
pickpocketin the soaked drummer,
destroyin February midnight Broadway’s dashed lines,
destroyin February midnight Broadway’s dashed lines,
headin north up the FDR
headin north up the FDR
uptempo music forever movin
uptempo music forever movin
exaggeratin into the air of possibilities-
exaggeratin into the air of possibilities-
to be or not to bop,
to be or not to bop,
absolutely no question
absolutely no question
hushed snow fallin
hushed snow fallin
white poppy round midnight February Harlem,
white poppy round midnight February Harlem,
Dizzy never goin back,
Dizzy never goin back,
he and Bird realizin long ago
he and Bird realizin long ago
the first time’s always perfect, man,
the first time’s always perfect, man,
brother deuces trumpetin and blowin down the East River,
brother deuces trumpetin and blowin down the East River,
annihilatin the gates clean off 52nd St,
annihilatin the gates clean off 52nd St,
mad fickle lovers removin dark glasses
mad fickle lovers removin dark glasses
decipherin naked notes-
decipherin naked notes-
composin one more Mr. Jones, their generational copilot
composin one more Mr. Jones, their generational copilot
and when Max and Monk’s uptempo drives them further,
and when Max and Monk’s uptempo drives them further,
14 melodies at once
14 melodies at once
burst out Dizzy’s parachuted cheeks
burst out Dizzy’s parachuted cheeks
mergin into one silverthroated voice,
mergin into one silverthroated voice,
flatted fifths soar
flatted fifths soar
speakin in whispers
speakin in whispers
the exact Minton’s of harmony,
the exact Minton’s of harmony,
and those uptown streets
and those uptown streets
and those bedsheets go
and those bedsheets go
rollin way back downtown,
rollin way back downtown,
to a place where unclothed cognac sunset waves
to a place where unclothed cognac sunset waves
run crashin off Rockaway Beaches,
run crashin off Rockaway Beaches,
to a place where this giant heart lives on
to a place where this giant heart lives on
forever touched by a child’s artistry,
forever touched by a child’s artistry,
lives on laughin and blowin
lives on laughin and blowin
forever dinin out on the Blues
forever dinin out on the Blues
SF, 1974