Jazz

 

Liberated

Finally taking little liberties

with the rhythm

from the lines

and the exactitudes

of what a genius wrote

and this non-genius

is interpreting

(not just trying to get through)

Flying

spirit past plastic chairs

set just

so as not to fall off the platform

of an open mic night audience riser

Objects – form

and square,

the non-square

equaling

open air too dangerous to attempt…

Hanging on

to the metal music stand being dragged away from under me

freed

from the written page

but loving

that written page

Getting out

of the key signature

harmonizing to no one’s melody

without knowing it

carrying on

with a trill-trained voice

making sounds as if

I know what I’m doing

Trapped

in a neverland of perfecting

the art of non-perfection,

of attempt and error,

of human, and

“I’m-here-listen-to-me” desperation,

or at least
let me do
      what I can’t
            do without

 

- D.Gorman / 2001