“Sensual Autumn” – a poem (for September) by Jerrice J. Baptiste

August 31st, 2025

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Jerrice J. Baptiste’s 12-month 2025 calendar of jazz poetry winds through the year with her poetic grace while inviting us to wander through music by the likes of Charlie Parker, Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Sinatra, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sarah Vaughan,  Melody Gardot and Nina Simone. She welcomes September with a poem of love that brings to mind the music of Joe Pass.

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September, 2025

“Sensual Autumn”

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photo via Pixabay

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Sensual Autumn

Under flaming
…..hickory trees,
abundance of acorns thump.

Our bodies lean
…..gently on trunk.
Hands rest on wise thick body

as we chat, and listen,
…..listen to rustle
…..…..of leaves above us.

Laughter sounds good,
…..feels good.
…..…..Intimate nature

of body language.
…..Casual hands
……….stroke bark.

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Listen to Jerrice J. Baptiste read her poem

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Listen to the 1998 recording of guitarist Joe Pass performing “Autumn Leaves” [Universal Music Group]

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Click to view any of the poems Jerrice wrote for each month.  

Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec/Intro

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Jerrice  J. Baptiste  is a poet and author of nine books, Her most recent poetry book  Coral in The Diaspora  is published by Abode Press (August 2024). She’s been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize (2024 & 2025), and Best of the Net in 2022.   Jerrice‘s poems and collaborative songwriting are featured on the Grammy nominated album Many Hands Family Music for Haiti.

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Click for:

The Sunday Poem

More poetry on Jerry Jazz Musician

“My Vertical Landscape,” Felicia A. Rivers’ winning story in the 69th 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

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