“Learning the Alphabet of the Blues” – a poem by Mary K O’Melveny

March 25th, 2026

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Mary K O’Melveny’s poem appears in the recently published book edited by Jerry Jazz Musician: Kinds of Cool:  An Interactive Collection of Jazz Poetry, Vol. II.

She reads her poem at its conclusion

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Art by Marsha Hammel

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Learning the Alphabet of the Blues

If you’ve ever had the blues, listen to the ladies
who can teach you what you need to know.
So many questions! How much time have you got?

How many broken hearts can be overhauled?
How long will it take? Start your repairs with
Abbey ..Alberta.. Amy ..Anita.. Aretha ..Astrid

How can you ever recover once hurt has stilled
you ..filled you ..chilled your veins like ice water?
Warm up with Bessie.. Betty ..Billie ..Blossom

How many long sleepless nights can you spend alone
staring at a silent telephone? Make a call to
Camille ..Carol ..Carmen.. Cassandra ..Chaka.. Cécile.. Cleo

How can you ever smile again when love has hiked
away and left you psyched stranded roadside? Hitch a
ride with Dakota ..Diana ..Dianne ..Dinah ..DeeDee

How can you confront morning light if your lover
left you weeping all night? See brightness again with
Eartha ..Edith.. Elaine.. Ella.. Ernestine ..Esperanza.. Ethel ..Etta

How many times can you mistake a rosy promise
for an air-tight guarantee? Read the fine print
with Florence.. Gretchen ..Hazel.. Helen ..Jane ..Jean

How can you stop tears that spill like parade confetti
fill days with fog of loss? Get steady again with
Jeanette.. Jo.. Joni ..Joyce.. Judy.. June.. Karrin.. Lillian ..Lorez

How long will it take to understand that the blues can mend
you befriend you not just upsend you? Spend some time with
Madeleine.. Mary.. Mary Lou.. Melissa.. Melody ..Mildred ..Miriam

How can you vocalize again when each tone you make
each breath you take sounds like gravesite keening? Try
harmonizing with Nancy ..Natalie.. Nicki.. Nina.. Norah

How will you ever trust anyone again when you’ve
been berated mistreated agitated persecuted? Regenerate
with Patricia ..Patti ..Pearl ..Peggy ..Roberta.. Rosemary ..Ruth

How will you know if it is time to take a chance on new
romance to dance once more? Take a spin with
Sade ..Samara.. Sarah ..Shirley.. Stacey.. Sylvia

The task feels near impossible. The blues take away the sting.
You’ll get the hang of things soon enough. The lessons are grand:
Pay close attention ..Tune In ..Hear them Sing.. Sing.. Sing

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Listen to Mary K O’Melveny read her poem

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(Kinds of Cool: An Interactive Collection of Jazz Poetry allows readers – through the use of QR codes and their smart technology devices – to hear several of the poets read their work (including Mary’s), and to listen to and view select historic recorded musical performances relevant to the poems). 

Click here to order the book on Amazon.com

 

 

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Mary K O’Melveny, retired labor rights lawyer, lives with her wife near Woodstock, NY. Mary became a fan of Jazz as a very young girl listening to Louis Armstrong and Lester Young on her grandparents’ Victrola record player. Mary’s award-nominated poetry appears in many print and on-line literary journals, anthologies and national blog sites. Mary has authored three poetry collections. Her just-released fourth book, Flight Patterns, is available by clicking here

Click here to read If You Want to Go to Heaven, Follow a Songbird – Mary K O’Melveny’s album of poetry and music, published by Jerry Jazz Musician

Click here to visit her web site

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Marsha Hammel

A native of Miami, FL, Marsha Hammel grew up in Central America and Europe, returning to the states in 1961. A prolific artist, she enjoys a wide audience for original paintings and published works in the UK, having been represented by Felix Rosenstiel’s in London since the early 90’s. During a four-decade studio practice, at least 1500 paintings have become part of private, corporate and institutional collections throughout the US and Europe. Click here  to visit her website.

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Listen to the 1946 recording of Billie Holiday performing the Irene Higginbotham, Ervin Drake, Dan Fisher composition “Good Morning Heartache” [Universal Music Group]

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Click for:

Information about Kinds of Cool:  An Interactive Collection of Jazz Poetry, Vol. II (featuring women poets)

The Sunday Poem Archive

More poetry on Jerry Jazz Musician

War. Remembrance. Walls. The High Price of Authoritarianism – by editor/publisher Joe Maita

“The Sound of Becoming,” J.C. Michaels’ winning story in the 70th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest

More short fiction on Jerry Jazz Musician

Information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction

Subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter

Helping to support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)

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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced since 1999

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