“Miles Davis” – a poem by David Dephy

May 26th, 2026

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photo by Tom Palumbo/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Miles Davis, 1956

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Miles Davis

Something is happening to me
when I listen to the solo in So What.
Can you really find what is real?
Take a deep breath.
You have to be crazy
to see things as they truly are,
but you know—this is the only way
to face what threatens your comfort.

You call yourself through the millennia—
the line between what is seen
and what agrees to be seen.
Shared belief. You know the rules.
You know what has happened.
You are the illusion you believe.
You are still here. Still wanting
to be loved.

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Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 – 100 years ago today

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Listen to David Dephy read his poem

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David Dephy is an award-winning American poet, novelist, and multimedia artist. He is the founder of Poetry Orchestra. Named Poet-in-Residence for Brownstone Poets for 2024-2026, his poetry was sent to the Moon in 2025 by NASA, Lunar Codex, and Brick Street Poetry. Dephy was exiled from his native country, Georgia, and granted indefinite political asylum in the U.S. With support from organizations such as the Artistic Freedom Initiative and PEN America, he secured asylum and reunited with his family in the U.S. He lives and works in New York.

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Listen to the 1959 recording of Miles Davis performing his composition “So What,” with Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto saxophone); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Bill Evans (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); and Jimmy Cobb (drums). [Miles Davis official audio]

 

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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

“Where the Music Wasn’t Allowed,” Jane McCarthy’s winning story in the 71st Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest

More short fiction on Jerry Jazz Musician

Information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction

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