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photo by Francis Wolff/© Mosaic Images

Lee Morgan, during rehearsal for Lonnie Smith’s Turning Point session, NYC, January 1969

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A Sidewinder Scenario
……………………..a companion to Lee Morgan’s The Sidewinder

Bobbin’ an’ weavin’
schuckin’ an’ jivin’
I’m comin’ up.
I’m comin’ up.

Down the corridor, I walk—
square ring stage
Garden audience awaits.
Step into the light,
the roar is a wave,
it carries me—
center of attention—
to weak-kneed opponent
waiting behind the ropes
with sweat-slicked forehead.

Shakin’, he’s shakin’.
I can’t help but smile,
give him a wink,
blow bettors a kiss,
drop my spangled robe,
shadow-box dance,
get blood a-pumpin’.

Bell rings—
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Touch gloves,
a little Do-si-do,
come out swingin’.
Left jab feint—
a test for distance.

Here come my sidewinder—
right cross—so’re his eyes.
Time stands still a moment
before the canvas countdown
to narcoleptic sleep of defeat.

**

 

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photo by Imogen Christine

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Jordan Trethewey is a writer and editor living in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He is also a husband, father (to two kids, a black cat, and a Sheltie) and beer-league softball player. Some of his poetry, fiction and non-fiction inhabits on-line publications such as Visual Verse, Fishbowl Press, Red Fez, The Blue Nib, Terror House Magazine, Califragile, Jerry Jazz Musician and Spillwords. Jordan is an editor at redfez.net, and openartsforum.com. His latest book, Spirits for Sale, is available on Amazon. His poetry has also been translated in Vietnamese and Farsi. To see more of his work go to: https://jordantretheweywriter.wordpress.com.

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Photo of Lee Morgan by Francis Wolff /© Mosaic Images. To access Mosaic’s complete library of classic Francis Wolff photographs, click here

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Listen to the 1964 recording of Lee Morgan playing “The Sidewinder,” with Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone), Barry Harris (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass), and Billy Higgins (drums)

 

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