SECTION TWELVE
POETRY PAGE SIX

sm
COLUMN NINETY-FOUR, JULY 1, 2003
(Copyright © 2003 The Blacklisted Journalist)

SALTPEANUTS

    In Memoriam, John Burks Gillespie

Blowfish
at Vanguard we met i was under
                                                    age
waiting to be shown the door
waiting to hear why
a joyful noise must be made
unto the ears of God…
mine, too;  

blowfish
Bird s flight and
a new voice for America and
prez s boxer stance and
youth & longing and
porkpie hats can fit Monks and
mistakes must be allowed;  

blowfish
Night in Tunisia dawned above
New York                                             

rooftop singer   you travelled
Webster s Avenue  heard
Hawkins scream new morning   saw
Ornette become ornate;  

blowfish
what you ve said is freedom s poison  

he s on the stand   has an idea   suddenly
it s everyone s they get it   yeah   it s
up to him to expound & expand    but get
it   yeah   &
                    he
                        & they
all rise to the