Left Hand
Melody
she plays with me
in familiar keys of
The song
pulsating with a vibrancy
she glides with me
reliantly
she comes
spiraling from soprano
rafters like a raptor
I am captured flat and
sharply raptured back
into wry smiles
within her rhythm,
her movement
moves Miles
along
currents swelling
from fingertips,
compressing
flowing,
spilling vibrations
sensationally
sonically caressing,
undressing her expression,
tingling a taut spine,
into loosening,
expressing what
we want
which is to tap
our foot in time
with her universe
increasing rapidly
haphazardly
astoundingly
muttering a curse
as the floor is felt no more
as our rapport
goes on unrehearsed
awe is dispersed
and then
what comes
is the melody
she played for me
in invented keys, free
to romp
pulsating with a vibrancy
she glides for me
defiantly
we stomp
diving from soprano
alighting near the altos
capturing counter-tempos
we come
baring nimble fingertips
ruling our rhythmic hips
soaring above mundane grips
we jaunt
and then we thump
to her melodic
microscopic
atomic-smashing
powerplant
it pumps
and then it jumps
tracks,
exchanging tempo
in time with
refined lines
I skip it
with her,
slightly behind,
but shit,
nobody minds,
freely
we balter
her id
leading evocative
moonbeams to traverse,
as planned
I skid,
reading provocative
loony dreams,
unrehearsed, and
I miss it
we falter
she has me
right where she wants us
at her fingertips,
and her fingers slip-weave
constellations
she baits,
but will not wait
for me to map her
destination, so I
play catch up
while she plays
parlor games with my soul
using only her right hand
she kissed it
with her left.
** *
Inspired by dVerse’s Jazz poetry with Amaya, hosted by guest poet, Amaya Engleking. We were encouraged to write some jazz poetry, or jazz-inspired poetry. Go here to read other dVerse poets’ contributions to this prompt.
I guess my whole vibe is that I kind of accidentally already live in this jazzy poetic realm. Still, this challenge reminded me of a recent jazz session.
I had the privilege of taking Wifey out to Jazz Alley for her birthday earlier this month and catching Hiromi Duet featuring Edmar Castaneda. They were amazing together, and Hiromi was especially mesmerizing in her solo piano work. I found a clip of her performing a song that just knocked the stuffing out of me live. It’s called Sicilian Blue. Anyway, my poem isn’t exactly about her, but it is most certainly inspired by her music.
(Also, sorry I’ve been away for so long. I’ve been struggling with depression and some unexpected life-altering changes. No one is in danger or poor health, but there were changes that I’m still struggling to adapt to. I ask for your continued patience and kindness. We’ll survive this. If I don’t see you again by year’s end, I’ll see you on the other side of 2018.)