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The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.
Patricia Carragon reads her poem at its conclusion.
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Mr. Bojangles
A raggedy man lived for music and Nina Simone,
called himself “Mr. Bojangles,”
played jazz on his secondhand sax,
tap-danced for tips and smiles.
He’d perform on his makeshift stage
at West 4th Street
for an underground medley
of passing souls and flavors—
both the good and bad.
His silver cup sometimes overflowed—
other times, emptied by thieves.
Some would listen,
others would run for their train
or walk to the nearest staircase.
The roar of trains competed with his sax,
but not enough to quash its notes—
even local rats would stop
and show their respect.
He spoke about Vietnam,
his loss of friends to drugs and disease,
his run-ins with the police,
his life on the streets,
his need to survive,
his need to spread sunshine
at West 4th Street.
Yes, he would speak again about his life,
then break into another dance and tune.
When he finished,
I left a tip and boarded my train—
not knowing that his sax and dance steps
would be no more.
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Listen to Patricia Carragon read her poem
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Patricia Carragon is author of Angel Fire (Alien Buddha Press), Meowku (Poets Wear Prada), The Cupcake Chronicles (Poets Wear Prada), and Innocence (Finishing Line Press). All are available on Amazon.com. She is curator/editor-in-chief of Brownstone Poets, Brooklyn, NY
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Listen to the 1987 recording of the saxophonist Steve Lacy playing Thelonious Monk’s composition “Misterioso” (IIP-DDS)
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Click here to read previous editions of The Sunday Poem
Click here to read “A Collection of Jazz Poetry – Spring/Summer, 2024 Edition”
Click here to read “Not From Around Here,” Jeff Dingler’s winning story in the 66th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
Click here for information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction
Click here to subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter
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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced (and AI-free) since 1999
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Beautiful! Thank you for publishing my poem.