Pottering around the stage,
a hyperactive ancient in his own backyard –
independent of the band it seems.
Disrhythmic shuffling of ashtray,
beer, a pack of cigarettes,
adjusting microphones,
then in the middle eight
he draws, exhales, and catches breath,
stoops forward to the mouthpiece
and blows,
a tumbling counterpoint,
scales soaring from his horn.
The melody flows
until the break,
and then he shoulders arms,
a truce between the music and his ailing lungs.
Between choruses he sits apart
to light another cigarette,
a sideman counting out the bars
until he rises for the coda –
this Lazarus of swing.
(Adrian Green)
More Poetry from Adrian Green:
Adrian Green Poems based on Topics: Music- Mirror (Adrian Green Poem)
- Pink Champagne (for Digby Fairweather) (Adrian Green Poem)
- Sailing Barges off Southend (Adrian Green Poem)
- Walking on the Estuary Hill (Adrian Green Poem)
- Luna Lake Haiku (Adrian Green Poem)
- String Bass (Adrian Green Poem)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Music PoemsBased on Keywords: cigarette, stoops, truce, cigarettes, catches, independent, shuffling, exhales, ailing, choruses, coda