The Sunday Poem: “A Conversation (What Jazz Is”) by David Nemerov

September 5th, 2026

The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.

David Nemerov reads his poem at its conclusion.

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Michael Mees, “Jazz Lives on Fillmore”/CC BY-ND 2.0/via Flicker

A Conversation (What Jazz Is)

Downbeat
Repeat
Chorus
Two times through
The four of us
Join forces
Forte if you please
For those first thirty two
Upbeat
Glorious
Yet somehow incomplete
But wait
How fortuitous
There’s more to this
Each one of us
A soloist
I implore
Once more
Unto the breech
Dear friends
I beseech
Let’s emote
Let’s evoke
Let’s bend some notes
Each to his own
Let’s compete
Two times round
Let’s provoke
Break new ground
Let it eat
Preach and teach
Seize the moment
And the music
Sets you free
That aside
Let’s decide
To divide
Let’s trade
Let’s get outside
Unbridled
Let your subconscious
Be your guide
Fate will tell
Let’s do eights
State your case
Things go well
What the hell
Why not four
What’s more
Next time through
Why not two
Eights beats
Then start anew
Here’s the scene
Let me elaborate
Let’s convene
Let’s create
Let’s trade eights
Let’s take some chances
Let’s get dangerous
And dance through the changes
In due course
Let’s swap fours
Let’s rumble
Let’s see
What we’ve got left
Let’s make some trouble
Atop the treble clef
Next verse
We converse
Let’s do two’s
Just like that
Two measures
At your pleasure
Like cool cats
Let’s have ourselves
A little chat
After that
Let’s sing
Let’s skat
Let’s swing this thing
Let’s let it rip
Improvise
Unwind
Call and answer
What’s on your mind
Tell it like it is
In 4/4 time
Expound
Get down brother
Let it all hang out
Get it off your chest
One leads to another
Passed on to the next
Round and round we go
Segues soliloquies solos
Who knows
Where this thing goes
So on your mark
We embark
Off we go again
Lyrical technicians
On a mission
Whatever ensues
Wherever it takes us
Let’s get extreme
Let madness reign supreme
That’s what jazz is
Significant
Magnificent
Wizardry like no other
Musicians become magicians
Alchemists to light the fuse
What say you, brothers
What is there to lose
Let’s cut loose
Let’s get down and dirty
Lets’ get wild and crazy
Let’s keep the groove
Let’s make our move
Let’s blow the doors off
Another thirty two

Listen to David Nemerov read his poem

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David Nemerov, 75, has been writing poems for a little over three years. His subjects are whatever comes to mind. Along with the poetry he moonlights as drummer with an affinity for Jazz, Blues, Zydeco, and whatever catches his fancy.

Listen to the 1963 recording of Thelonious Monk performing his composition “Criss Cross,” with Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); John Ore (bass); and Frankie Dunlop (drums). [Columbia/Legacy]