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The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.
Russell Dupont reads his poem at its conclusion.
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photo of Benny Goodman by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress
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Licorice Stick
My parents had this big Crosley
and a stack of albums —
Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers —
and some nights I’d get up from bed
and peek into the living room
where my mother and father
slowly waltzed in place.
Rummaging through a closet one day,
I found, under bags of old clothes,
a long and narrow case
and inside, cradled on black velvet,
a sort of tube, black and slender,
with silver rings and levers —
an instrument I had never seen.
“Licorice stick,” my father said.
“Clarinet. Used to play —
but that was long ago.”
He rolled it ‘round in his hands,
set it back in its case,
tucked the case under his arm.
“No more, though,” he said.
A few nights later,
I woke to a melody,
sad and melancholy,
that seemed to float
in the air — and tip-toed
from my room to watch
my parents dance.
The lights were off
and the room was empty
but for my father’s profile,
standing by the window,
eyes closed, blowing notes
that caressed the night
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Listen to Russell DuPont read his poem
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“Licorice Stick” was first published in Jerry Jazz Musician, and appears in the author’s new collection of jazz and blues poetry, Jazz at the Point
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Russell Dupont is an artist and an author whose artwork is included in a number of public and private collections. He has published three novels, King & Train , Waiting for the Turk and Movin’ On, the sequel to King & Train; two books of poetry; and two non-fiction chapbooks. His essay, “The Corner,” is included in the anthology Streets of Echoes. His work has been published in various newspapers and literary magazines. He was the founder & publisher of the literary magazine, the albatross.
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Listen to Benny Goodman perform the Johnny Green composition “Body and Soul” (with Teddy Wilson, piano; Gene Krupa, drums). [Columbia]
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Click for:
Information about Kinds of Cool: An Interactive Collection of Jazz Poetry
More poetry on Jerry Jazz Musician
“Saharan Blues on the Seine,” Aishatu Ado’s winning story in the 68th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
More short fiction on Jerry Jazz Musician
Information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction
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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced since 1999
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