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A Jazz Pianist

A large, bearish man sat down
Wearing a knitted stove pipe hat
Sculptor hands size of dinner plates
Fingers straight like a karate master
Not a classical player

Piano pours forth like a poem
Flowing from a germ cell
Unrhymes and enjambments
Flowering into a bright melody
Chordal clusters gracefully smashed
A keyboard dancer with a boxer’s punch

One note can be as small as a pinhead
One note can contain the world
One note is selected from a hundred
Chosen like a perfect pearl
He left silences where others glissando
Implied more than was said
Those infinite rests and spaces
Kept us waiting in suspense

His rhythma-ning was infectious
Delicious and dissonant licks
Lifting up the bandstand
And Bemsha really did swing

Decades later, I sit here and play along
To his reflections at midnight
Why is ugly beauty so euphonious
A lovely paradox
There was only one Thelonious

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Last few words: 
32 lines, inspired by a musician and the piano
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

to a bluesman of the first caliber. His unique style was what made him one of the most controversial jazz pianists of all time.
Your exquisite description of his hands and music leaves nothing to be desired here. Well done! ~Geezer.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

he was one of a kind indeed, I knew there was another Monk fan on this site, cheers for reading and feedback

author comment

I was not familiar with Thelonious Monk until the intricate description in your poem sent me to find out more. What an accurate and ardent tribute. "A keyboard dancer with a boxer's punch."
I enjoyed this!
L

its great to hear that my poem inspired you to discover this musician, I do hope you continue to listen thanks for reading and commenting !

author comment

You show a commanding grasp on a lot of musical concepts and they’re evident in the poem. Jazz definitely uses dissonance to full effect and when melody does present itself it surely stands out.

Excellent
Tim

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