Listening to Trane
Madman rages burst
from his golden horn-
Through John’s mouthpiece
galaxies of enlightened energy
were born-
Trane’s band wailed
in dissonant bawling
saxophone screeching laughter-
Elephant tusk keys
pierced tumultuous melodies-
The bass like a skeleton
held the tender flesh
of music
together as one-
John sailed his ship
into the heart of the sun-
He guided his band
into the blaze-
Within his heart
gleamed the Holy spark-
Within his mind
skeletal branches swayed-
Wrapped in stormy winds he played-
Shuddering saxophone cries
neath these storm riven skies-
Soulful wailing-
Meteor trailing-
Midnight rain-
Coltane-
Jazz you are to me
Jazz at your best you turn my blood into lava spewing
through the canyons of my veins-
Jazz you turn my brain into a smoldering crater-
Jazz you bring back to me childhood joys-
My mind when you dazzle just right becomes
like a thermal lake steaming and rippling in autumnal winds-
Jazz you are like an angelic-demon-lover-moaning-seething-bright
upon the raggedy sheets of this weary-ever-mysterious-life-
Jazz-like a house on fire you leap with flame-
Insane ramblings issue forth from your frothing mouth aglow-
You’re like flakes of snow whirling in winter winds-
You’re a bloody knife-a wild-eyed-tender yet tempestuous friend-
Jazz you’re a spoon blackened by flame with which
the witch churns her bubbling-boiling brews
her vision inducing stews of which I sip
when the walls of this world are sweating and closing in-
I turn you on Jazz and suddenly trumpet flames leap and flicker all around-
Jazz you spew meteors of sound which burn in my brain-
