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Mingus

by John G.Hall 

Posted: 12 October 2003
Word Count: 115
Summary: Jazzed to death and badly missed.


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Mingus.

Mingus' music waited in the strings'
jump, dust sat down and prayed
for fingers, thumbs and hits.
Loose gone tight , tight gone loose
blue loops gave him the notes to play
wrapped around him like girls hips.
Dots like lost continents amongst the waves
drops of black and white paying dues to Africa,
Jesus! Even billy-clubs in the darkness worshiped.
After the booze the jazzed rage slid along
the hallelujah ropes , angel licking his soul ,
devil clipping his wings, man shining-up his shoes. Yet
the sounds sat it out , patiently waiting like death
until the storm before the calm poured down his gift,
Mingus music weighted in the string's.

John.G.Hall©2003







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Comments by other Members



Fearless at 08:52 on 13 October 2003  Report this post
John

I liked this very much, being an avid listener of 'Ah um' and 'The black saint and the sinner lady'. Much missed.

Fearless

Skeetr at 23:57 on 13 April 2004  Report this post
Making my rounds, John G., making my rounds -- how can a gal like me pass up a chance to read a poem 'bout the mighty-mighty Mingus!

Loose gone tight , tight gone loose / Jesus! / angel licking his soul / Mingus music weighted in the string's...

You capture the feel of the man and music and scene (well, the 'scene' as I garner from recordings and reading, not having been there) -- but this poem grabs the reader and makes her feel there.

Really like this,

Smith



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