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photo from PxHere
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You Almost Did Not: Come Back
…………….For The Memory Of Miles Davis Playing Trumpet
Around St. Louis, Early On
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a strange caribbean woman
………….kneeled down
very close to me,
………….in my hospital recovery bed.
she seemed very animated
………….also even sensory
she gradually came closer
………….as she put her face next to mine.
was she possessed
………….she was shaking
as if on
………….a séance.
“I have heard,”
………….she said
“and have seen …”
………….“you came back,”
“for sure …”
………….“I can feel it so … real.”
“this is something,”
………….“I know.”
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*****
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she said
………….“the rumor has it,”
“that you,”
………….“came back to life,”
“for some reason.”
she said with emphasis
………….“that you came back,”
“from the dead.”
I said
………….“I believe,”
“that has been said,”
………….“a couple of times before.”
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*****
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she said, quite emphatically
………….and again forcefully
“you should do something,”
………….“to change your life.”
“you go,”
………….“make a difference,”
“upon,”
………….“your return.”
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*****
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“you owe,”
………….“all of us,”
“this one thing,”
………….“from you.”
she said, for example
………….“find a trumpet song,”
“to play out”
………….“from your soul.”
“that is just your own trumpet,”
………….“sounding out,”
“above the heights of the city’s rooftops,”
………….“from the city,”
“from all of us in st. louis,”
………….“ we all know so well.”
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by Alan Yount
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A Tool Of Reconstruction
See my son
The fortune of bliss
Capturer of light
Alone and dismissed
My structure of being
A heart rupture – equip
A new mode of understanding
Alone and dismissed
Symphony and orchestra
My band’s melodic attempt
Salvation please save me
Act on a whim
Capture his essence
Capture his light
Don’t you dismiss me – because of the fright you put in the night
Now pick up and play the trumpet, if it is alright
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by Arlan Yount
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Editor’s Note:
In addition to being a published poet of note for over 50 years, Alan Yount plays trumpet and has led his own dance band. During the summer of 2021, he had an aortic tear and other health complications that required emergency open heart surgery. During the experience he had a dream of Miles Davis.
Shortly after receiving Alan Yount’s poem, I received a poem from his son Arlan, who is not a poet but was moved to write “A Tool Of Reconstruction” after his father’s health crisis. He hopes the poem will help inspire his father to continue playing his trumpet.
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Alan Yount has published poetry for over 50 years. His poems have appeared in WestWard Quarterly (featured poet for summer, 2018). Big Scream, Spring: the Journal of the E.E. Cummings Society, and Waterways. He has been in three anthologies: Passionate Hearts, Sunflowers.and Locomotives: Songs for Allen Ginsburg. Alan was one of 31 poets, along with Gary Snyder and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Also Chrysalis Reader. Alan plays trumpet and has led his own dance band.
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Arlan Yount has a degree in psychology and is currently furthering his education. Writing poetry and short stories illuminates his time as a leisurely passion while also focusing on the fitness, health and psychological well-being of himself and others as a behavioral-fitness coach. He currently resides in Columbia Missouri and be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram at arlanyount
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Listen to the 1951 recording of the Miles Davis composition “Out of the Blue,” featuring Miles Davis (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto sax), Sonny Rollins (tenor sax), Walter Bishop, Jr. (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), and Art Blakey (drums)
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Click here to learn how to submit your poetry
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Arlan: I am astonished you wrote this poem, and submitted it
with out me knowing. What a thrill to see our two poems together.
I like the force in your lines, “Capture his essence,” “Capture his light,”
And the ending about still being able to play the trumpet.
Just so much thanks, son. For real. I played trumpet today,
after three month of recovery of not playing it!!!!!!!!! So much Love, Your Dad.
Reading your comment, Alan, is the best thing that has happened to me in a week (maybe even longer). So proud to share your and Arlan’s poetry with readers, and to read of its meaning to you. Glad you are playing trumpet again! Joe
The Father/Son connection in these poems was beautiful to read. Great love and understanding in these.
Thanks so much Joe Maita and Daniel Brown …. For sure.
It has been a while now since Alan’s passing. I am missing his correspondence with me. I am missing the occasional email telling me of a new poem published here. I come here from time to time to read his poetry again, and to listen to the recording of his and Arlan’s reading of their poetry. I see the Dave Sanborn record album, with Dave’s signature, framed and hanging above my front door when I come and go as I carry on with my life; Alan left it to me in his Will. Alan is gone, he is missed. His widow Jerra misses him, I am sure the holidays have been sad for her and the family. Why is it that the bad guys continue to thrive when so many of the good guys leave us too soon? We’ll never know the answer to that, but I keep asking myself over and over to no avail. Rest easy Alan, your music remains in the memory of many of us and your poetry lives on through our reading of it, so generously shared by Joe here on this great site. Wishing for all of Alan’s fans and friends a happy, healthy New Year! Thank you to JJM fans for reading and for your comments, and so much appreciation to you Joe for so much.
Alan was a special poet, and a warm and caring person. Thanks for posting this wonderful tribute to him, Leslie.
Joe Maita