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Readers can click to the next month at the conclusion of each poem. You can also go to each month by clicking on the link to the months here:
Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec/Intro
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October, 2025
“Sweet Lilac Wine”
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painting of Nina Simone by Vakseen
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Sweet Lilac Wine
Eyes close, she inhales the scent of the lilac tree.
Compelled to make lilac wine, she loses herself.
Where’s her love?
Feels the vibration of her loneliness in the darkness.
Lilac on her tongue, voice is her hazy instrument.
Where’s her love?
She drinks to forget October, pleads to white onyx moon.
Will he be back? Embrace her shoulders by noon?
Where’s her love?
Listen, her mind is raging dear.
Lilac wine, her sweet love has no fear.
Where’s her love?
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Listen to Jerrice J. Baptiste read her poem
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Click here to listen to Nina Simone perform “Lilac Wine”
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Born in Athens, GA (1979) and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Otha Davis III (also known as Vakseen) is a self-taught, museum-exhibited artist and a multi-platinum music executive, producer & songwriter.
Click here to visit his website
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Click here to read Jerrice’s poem for November
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Wow, what a fabulous concept and creation! And “Hey Julie, it’s January” was a perfect way to start the New Year. I look forward to all the rest.
Thank you Joanne for expressing your joy for this Jazz Poetry Calendar! Yes, I agree it’s a great start to the New Year! I do hope you get to explore as many of the poems, songs & photographs as possible!
Thanks for commenting! Best wishes, Jerrice
Very interesting and entertaining idea. I like the nuance between Jerrice’s poem and the song.
Just listened to “April in Paris.” Jerrice, you are giving a relevant voice to the voices and artistry of the past. The passion that Sarah Vaughan and the composers could only allude to you have enriched with your poetic interpretation of their feelings. Your respect for their work reveals their excellence in jazz rendition and your sensitivity as a poet .
This poem is intriguing, I love the energy and beautiful language.
This poem is sensual and captivating it makes me want to listen to this jazz song. thank you for putting it in towards what I feel are strong emotions.
Very beautiful poem, it evokes a special feeling of spring. It’s a compliment to the beautiful song
Thank you Emmanuel for reading, listening, reflecting, commenting on our Jazz Poetry Calendar!
An abundance of gratitude for your beautiful words written here!
Best wishes, Jerrice
A really lovely concept, Joe and Jerrice…I’m looking forward to reading what each month of 2025 inspires!
Thank you Connie!
Joe was amazing is his vision for this poetry calendar project! It’s been a true collaboration!
I feel blessed! You can read each poem here on this website for each month! Thanks for commenting!
Best wishes, Jerrice
Définitivement tu me charmes avec tes poèmes.
” bonsoir Ms. Gardot ” m’excite à écrire mon propre poème.
Bravo Jerrice.
I love your visual use of color and your cool sensations of wind and rain. Your words show the essence of changes in time. Very befitting of a calendar with the monthly honor of the representatives of jazz. Concrete and real.
Thank you Mary!
This wonderful project has given me the opportunity to capture & express what I feel when I listen to Jazz!
Thanks for reading & listening!
Best wishes for the new year!
Jerrice
What music in these lines, Jerrice! You continue to amaze me with your poetic talent!
Thank you Carolyn!
Jazz is a gift and I feel grateful that my poetry can be a gift through which jazz can be appreciated even more!!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! I appreciate it!
Best wishes, Jerrice
Ton poème ” Julie “pour le mois de Janvier m’inspire de choses.
Bon travail Jerrice.
I love this poem .
Very nice Jerrice.
Excelsior
Such a beautiful comment! Thank you Mirlande!
Joy & gratitude,
Jerrice
J’apprécie tes poèmes Jerrice. Tu es pour moi une source d’inspiration.
Vas – y .
Merci beaucoup Roodly!
C’est un grand joie d’etre ton inspiration!
C’est magnifique ton compliment! Jerrice
Love this poem I can feel spring coming!
I like the summer wind is mine blowing! It make you think! Love the poem.
Thanks so much Catherine! I’m glad you could feel the summer season and its beauty through my poem. Thanks for taking the time to read & enjoy it! Best wishes, Jerrice
I love the poem, the concept and the writing in general. I want more of that.
Wow. Such a powerful poem, Jerrice. I love the unveiling of details about your and your partner’s emotional states through such beautiful imagery. The way the story unfolded was captivating — it kept me reaching for the next line to figure out what was going on, and to see how it would resolve. I love that the resolution to such scary possibilities was found not just by the doctor saying they didn’t find anything wrong, but also through mindful walks in nature. Such an important lesson that anyone can benefit from learning– how to move through difficult emotions using presence of mind.
Thank you so much Allison! I’m glad you were so moved by my poem “August Blues” and that you learned so much from it. How nature can be a source of healing for all of us. I’m thrilled the imagery was powerful and suspenseful! Thanks for reading, listening and commenting! Happy New year!
Jerrice
So beautiful! The journey of falling in love: from thawing the jaded ponds of your heart to breaking free from icy borders to let rushing waters of love be free — to finally let the love not only in, but to let all the love within yourself out. I also love the imagery of the heart described as “red chambers”, it evokes such truth in the matters of the heart: the heart is not just a completed puzzle handed to a lover, it is something to explore in the process of loving, if you are granted that entrance to the “red chambers”. Stunning, Jerrice.
“November Affair” is so intimate and laced with such visceral details that I can really picture and feel this moment in time. What a lovely depiction of a slow, lovely evening.
Thank you Allison for reading my poem “November Affair.” I appreciate your presence of mind to grasp the details of language, and imagery. It is a complex poem, I’m grateful it touched you so much!
Best wishes, Jerrice
Ms Gardot
C’est magnifique
Jerrice, in addition to your January poem (“Hey Julie”), I’m loving “August Blues” and October’s “Sweet Lilac Wine.”
Again, the concept of a Jazz Poetry calendar? Perfect 👌 💞
Hi Connie,
It’s so wonderful that you returned to read more of my poems in the Jazz poetry calendar!! Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad “August Blues” and “Sweet Lilac Wine” are some of your favorites! Me too! Joy & gratitude, Jerrice
The idea of writing poems celebrating jazz musicians is very unique and intriguing. I am not familiar with some of the musicians here, but your words paint wonderful pictures of the ones I do know while at the same time combining the imagery of the calendar month. Well done.
Thanks so much Nicole! I appreciate your comment. These poems are a celebration of life and jazz! So glad you’re enjoying all the jazz artists here! Best wishes, Jerrice
La Table Française adore ce projet. Magnifique!!
Charlie parker is a poem of peace and calm i love it
Thanks so much Bichini for returning to read more of my poems! I’m glad you love the poems especially the one about Ms. Gardot! C’est magnifique! Best wishes, Jerrice
Jerrice, this calendar project was just perfect for you. You are an extraordinary poet and the blending of your poems with these incredible artists just makes your words even sweeter. April in Paris was exquisite. Thank you!
Thanks so much Sandi! Glad you enjoyed April in Paris! Thanks for your thoughtful comment! I loved selecting the songs and writing the poems to complement the songs. It was a fun project! Best wishes, Jerrice
Love the humor and fun:
!A poem about a dream of ladybirds
Who crashed through to real life and ate up the dreamer’s real life
Strawberries!
Thanks so much Priscilla! I’m thrilled you love June Bugs & Berries! This imaginative poem was a blast to write! Lots & lots of fun! Thanks for your joyful comment! Best wishes, Jerrice
What a wonderful concept! I just love this jazz + poetry calendar to bring in the New Year 2025 – such a rich and brilliant pairing of images, poetry and jazz. Jerrice’s lyrical poems so wonderfully capture the essence of the music and musician , and the senses and spirit of each seasons too. W such a great collaborative creative project! Will be a treat to visit through the months. Thank you!
WOW! Thanks so much Bonnie! It’s so fabulous that you will be revisiting the poems of the calendar throughout the months! Glad you admire the creativity
and love of this project for this year! Best wishes, Jerrice
February is “magnifique,” Jerrice. I loved the repetition and flowing images! Brava!
Thanks so much Carolyn for returning to read more of my poems! I’m thrilled you love my February poem, Bonsoir Ms. Gardot! C’est magnifique! I appreciate your love for the images & repetition. Thanks again! Best wishes, Jerrice
Juliie,
le titre du poeme de Janvier.
Ce poeme est tres interessant .
Je l’aime beaucoup Jerrice.
Bon travail.
Merci beaucoup Mirlande! Je te remercie pour tes compliments!
C’est un grand plaisir pour moi que tu aimes “Hey Julie.” Je l’adore aussi! Jerrice
Sweet lilac wine
Définitivement Jerrice c’est confirmé que tu es une poète talentueuse.
Excelsior ma nièce.
Merci beaucoup ma tante Mirlande! Je suis heureuse que tu aimes Sweet Lilac Wine! J’apprecie ton compliment! Avec joie, Jerrice
I love this poem, Jerrice! Looking forward to next month. Smooth as silk, swoon worthy and lovely!
Thanks so much Anya! I’m happy you love the poem! Yes, looking forward to your next comment for next month’s poem! Best wishes! Jerrice
I love Sarah Vaughan and the song is beautiful. This whole idea of your poems Jerrice, coupled with the music it’s just extraordinary! You are so talented and wish all the best. Eyes Up! 💙
Thanks so much Valerie! I’m glad you love Sarah Vaughan singing April in Paris and my poem! Thanks for your encouraging comment too! Best wishes, Jerrice
Hey Jerrice
January’s a right treat,
Ms Baptiste!
Love the concept and look forward to the rest of the poems!
Thank you so much Connie for reading! I’m glad you enjoyed January’s poem and are excited about next month’s offering.
Best wishes,
Jerrice
To call Jerrice’s poems sensual doesn’t do them justice. They are tactile with all the rough or soothing textures. They are so aromatic they have your mouth watering to breathe the same air for nourishment. What wonderful series! August blues leaves wanting to stand in the rain with her.
Jerrice – wonderful, and it hit me much more, once I heard the music…yes indeed, it’s a beautiful piece, and your piece goes beautifully with it. It takes me away…I could hear your poem echoing within the tune, especially the bass…a lovely experience. Thank you, and thanks for showing us to this site.
Be well, and have a beautiful Summer,
Charlie
thank you for the wonderful collection of poems presented in this publication. love the themes and inclusion of music. keep it up!