Jazz Poems

CHARLIE PARKER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK

from Wall Street who OD’ed last week

on Explosion 2000 on that street corner

right over there when KABOOM! You kissed me

smack on the lips just as “Confirmation” kicked in.

Just as Venusin two-toned dreadlocks and a skin-tight

smock danced from the band shell with her pet python,

Bodyguard, to “All the Things You Are.”

Just as punk rockers rocked, in-flowered on sheets,

sipped smoothies and smoked,

Their hair spirited to pastel auras, rosehip,

Island lime, a shade of blue just washed by rain.

Just as Ukraine checkmated, as twins seesawed,

As bikers cracked smiles in the Hari-Hari, the slap-

tongue of sax. At the mommies and the poppies. Just as.

And they were doing the brothers in descending order.

The three brothers Heath: Percy, Jimmy, call him “Little Bird,”

And Albert “Tootie” Heath. With Milt Jackson on vibes,

three score and twelve, and still working. Two boys in love

Grooved, one in white pants and sailor hat,

the other in a buffalo nickel belt that bedazzled.

They sat on the park bench eating falafel.

A man with one leg sold charms for a dollar. For luck.

For the music that day and the light, you could say it

was all bell-bottomed and swaybacked. Young-like.

And your kiss. All at once I was riding a sparkling gold Schwinn bike.

Something in my head went from full torpor to starburst:

as if whetted by some wild vibranto, your kiss,

the vibes’ licks cleared my vision of fizz for an instant.

What had been all Midnight Dragon was now

a Tropicana-Pure-Premium-sharpened C

delivered as of this morning to the Santa Barbara Deli

and Superetti down the street. Just like that.

In your arms and the music and the light, I thought I might

>go plumb or Penteostal, lay down on the grass, recite

Kahlil, take up knitting, eat pickles and marry you–

Tell that priest to stop playing Frisbee with the lab

so we can say our vows right here and now before “Tenor Madness”

ends! Opps! I forget we’re already married! Just as.

CATHERINE BOWMAN

from Jazz Poems ~ Selected and Edited by Kevin Young

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