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The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.
Terrance Underwood reads his poem at its conclusion.
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photo by Carl Van Vechten/Library of Congress
Paul Desmond, 1954
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A Desmond Shot With A
Haiku Chaser
Modest Assistance
dismayed like being shipboard on a stagnate sea
where each day presents more unprescedence
cool alto voicing from Desmond and his crew
brace the air for continued polka dots and moonbeams
lifting spirit with the right breath of wind sought
a guitar trims rigging deeply lashed by upright strings
and roundly anchored with sticks and skins and
taking a dose of this often in large portions does provide
a welcome remedy during passage through these doldrums
until Terra Firma can be reached again
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Such That Blossoms
in Desmond gardens
……………….enduring sylvan fragrance
from poor butterfly
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Listen to Terrance Underwood read his poem
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Terrance Underwood is a retired Gas Turbine Package Engineer whose career offered opportunities to work all over the world. A devoted jazz enthusiast, his first memory operating a mechanical devise was a 4-speed spindle drop record changer for his father’s collection of 78s. In 2024, he was nominated by Jerry Jazz Musician for a Pushcart Prize.
Click here to read Proceeding From Behind: A collection of poems grounded in the rhythmic, relating to the remarkable, by Terrance Underwood
Click here to read his collection of poems “With Ease in Mind”
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Listen to the 1963 recording of Paul Desmond performing the Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke composition “Polka Dots and Moonbeams,” with Jim Hall (guitar); Gene Cherico (bass); and Connie Kay (drums). [RCA Classics]
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Click for:
A Letter From the Editor: On “The Weary Blues: Celebrating Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance”
Information about the book Kinds of Cool: An Interactive Collection of Jazz Poetry, Vol. II (featuring women poets)
“21 jazz poems on the 21st” collections
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
Subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter
Helping to support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)
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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced since 1999
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