Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash
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.)
Hephaestus’ Waste & Cosmic Rubble 
Fantastic!! Love it…totally nailed the prompt.
Sorry to hear you’ve had so many challenges lately!! I’m also happy to kiss 2017 goodbye, has not been the greatest here either.
Here’s hoping things start going up for you!
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Peace, Barry. I’m praying that 2017 ends the way you need it to and that 2018 will be so much better to you.
The poem… it IS jazz.
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(Do you still have your blog? I was following but have seen no new posts.)
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This poem skittered down the page like piano keys – so very cool. Loved it. I hope 2018 dons brightly for you, Barry. All will be well. I believe!
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Thank you. Glad you liked it. 🙂
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Wow! 👏
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Thanks. 🙂
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Captivating, mesmerizing, a tempo so inviting ~ the piano piece is amazing, thank you ~
Hope you are well Barry ~ I pray that you and your family will have a meaningful holiday season ~
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Thank you Grace.
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Love the way you used the music to write about the perfect night together… glas to see you back and hope all will get better… 🙂
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Thanks, man. Much appreciated.
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So I read your poem in the middle of the night but didn’t want to comment until I heard what was all the fuss. Ha! Now I absolutely know what you mean by,
“I am captured flat and
sharply raptured back”
She’s a knockout and I loved the introspective theme from 2:30-4:30 and how it lead into the next dance-y section. I was also wondering what she was thinking but then I realized it was like a birth and that she wasn’t, suspended in some non-time where thought has no gravity. Great poem, Barry, and hope things get better and that we’ll be seeing you around…
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Yes… yes to your analysis! Though my favorite part is between time indexes 4:20 and 8:25. I’d like nothing more than to distill it and pour it into my morning coffee each and every day.
Thank you for the nuanced comment and well wishes. I expect to be right-sided by January, hopefully.
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I liked the part about the soprano spiraling like a raptor at the beginning.
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Thank you. I was trying to embody the music.
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Great poem! A whole evening of Jazz in one poem!
Dwight
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Thank you. Glad you liked it!
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You are welcome!
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Provocatively written and right on the money for the jazz feel of it.
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Thank you.
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