an argument between drums and horns

down at the jazz factory
            landlord keeps the beat
steady
steady
               slow
this is landlord’s parade
            and this is how he plays it
his sticks are tight, the music tight
                       this night feels
                all right
landlord hits the cymbals
                        and it starts to rain
shh-tat-ta-tat-tat-splash
                        just a little sprinkle
shh-tat-ta-tat-tat-splash
and the horns walk in, start jumping
                              into puddles
trombone is the backbone, the big brother
do-whop-a-whop
                                 wah-wah
do-whop-a-whop
                                 wah-wah
trumpet is the poet of the family
                              he pours the coffee
beh-dee-deet
            da dee-deet
beh-dee-da-dee-da-dee-deet
and the girl
            with the whiskey fist
and the rose on her lips
                        blows him a kiss                                   
so he talks to her
                                    beh-dee-deet
da dee-deet
            beh-dee-da-dee-da-dee-deet
time gets loose and thin
but landlord snares it in
                                             so tight
shh-tat-ta-tat-tat-splash, shh-tat-ta-tat-tat-splash
do-whop-a-whop
                                 wah-wah
do-whop-a-whop
                                 wah-wah
landlord punched the clock
            and we start to rock
beh-dee-deet
            da dee-deet
beh-dee-da-dee-da-dee-deet
landlord is pounding
                            horns are laughing
pounding and laughing
                              laughing
and pounding
                        all of a sudden
                                                            the music stops
all is
 
quiet
 
silent
 
like
holding your breath
before a storm
and landlord says
                                             “time to pay the rent”
boom-boom-splash-boom!, bah-boom-bah-boom! bah-boom! ric-a-tic-a- splash!
boom-boom-boom! thump-a-thump-a-tic-a-tic-a boom-bash-boom-splash!
boom-splash! boom-splash! rat-a-tat-tat-tat-boom, bah-boom! bah-boom-boom-
            splash! splash! splash!
boom-boom!
                        splash!
boom!
            boom!
                                                boom-splash!
yeah!
and then the trombone blows up, and the trumpet blows up, and the room blows up
and the moon blows up, one whole city block blows up, and all of harlem
                                                                                                         shakes
and all the whiskey fists and red rose lips screaming “drums have won! horns have won!
                                                                                                         all is one!”

just the way i like it

posted for Shay's Word List #7

posted for dverse oln #307

posted for poets and storytellers united

salute

to the year that has passed, with all its happenstance

so long

 

to the battles i lost and crosswords unsolved

farewell

 

to the sky that does not know if it wants to snow or shine

may you find peace

 

to all the leaves now fallen from the sycamore tree

i wave from my window

 

to all the dead batteries in the back of the desk drawer

i’m sure we’ll meet again

 

to last year’s new year’s eve seven layer dip

still on the bottom shelve of the fridge

sorry i let you down

 

to the empty gum wrapper blowing around in the gutter

live long, live well

 

to cable news and the loons who scream on the bus

good show

 

to all books with dusty dust covers that i plan to read

but never do

have faith

 

to all the potholes on east alameda avenue that never get fixed

stay true

 

and to the new year that approaches and all of its verve

i say

ok

 

happy new year everyone