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The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.
j.lewis reads his poem at its conclusion.
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photo by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress
Ben Webster, 1946
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hush for the sax
hush.
listen to the melody
the undulating voice of pain
too wide for hands to hold
too deep for hell’s own shadows
to mute, to resist
hush.
feel the empty agony
of unexpected loneliness
the heart-torn tone of tears
that only a musician could cry
and only a woman bear, unmoved
hush.
sense the final, lowest note
descending beneath the human ear
to resonate eerily through the floor
of this darkened convocation
hush.
bathe in the flow
of this blues bar
orphean saxophone
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Listen to j.lewis read his poem
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j.lewis is a musician, psych nurse practitioner, internationally published poet, and the editor of Verse-Virtual, an online journal and community. When he is not otherwise occupied, he is often outdoors, exploring and photographing the open spaces near his home in California. He is the author of five full length collections, plus eleven chapbooks. Click here to visit his website.
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Listen to the 1954 recording of Ben Webster performing Duke Ellington’s composition “All Too Soon” [Universal Music Group]
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Click for:
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
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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