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

Judith Vaughn reads her poem at its conclusion.

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photo by Veryl Oakland

Chet Baker, 1978

 

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Always Cool

Alison weaves on her loom in the living room.
Fifth floor walk up. Manhattan. Chet plays
on the stereo; a trumpet divinely graced,
caressed like a stunning woman’s body, soft
velvet skin. ….Soiled by drugs.

A hot night in the Big Apple; people walk streets
below to get cool. Chet, he was always cool no matter
the heat. He played horns and women and drugs;
determined to stain his life; back-alleys wherever
he traveled.

Where’d you go man? Where’d you go?
They found your body beneath a hotel window.
Amsterdam. ….Self-inflicted accident waiting,
took the offering gods bestowed.

Not a valentine, not a work of art, though you were
all that to her, to Alison…. my blonde goddess friend
who wove your tunes, brilliant reds and blues and light;
no chaos.

She’s gone now too. I dream she found you; you
sing her songs, caress the horn in the way only
a genius can. You’re happy together. It’s what I have,
what I hold — from long ago and far away.

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Listen to Judith Vaughn read her poem

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Judith Vaughn lives in Sonoma, California. She attended New York City College, John F. Kennedy University, and Dominican University. She is a member of PoeticLicenseSonoma who read their poetry the 4th Tuesday of each month at Se-bastopol Center for the Arts. Publications: First Literary Review-East an online literary publication, 2020, 2022; Oak Leaf News, a student publication at SRJC, Santa Rosa, CA; Jerry Jazz Musician; Crossroads, Redwood Writers’ 2022 poetry anthology; and Moonlight and Reflections, Nine Sonoma Poets, Valley of the Moon Press.

She is also a photographer. Photo images: 500px.com/judithjudith1

https://judithjudith.tumblr.com

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Veryl Oakland is a photojournalist who devoted nearly thirty years in search of the great jazz musicians.  His  Jerry Jazz Musician  series, “Jazz in Available Light” – a collection of his photos and stories from his book of the same name – can be accessed by clicking here.

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Listen to the 1959 recording of Chet Baker playing “I Talk to the Trees,” with Herbie Mann (flute); Zoot Sims (saxophone); Pepper Adams (saxophone); Bill Evans (piano); Earl May (bass); and Clifford Jarvis (drums).  [Universal Music Group]

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Click here  to view previous editions of  The Sunday Poem

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Click here  for information about how to submit your poetry

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