ALL THAT JAZZ
by Erik Whitaker

night listens to coltrane and you spoke about fishing and all that jazz and the polyphonic heart beats sneaked past me
as I helped night through my window like a gentleman

and everything divides gently into jazz like moods on a particular day or grant green at sundown

jazz has always made me proud to be American
and now I find the sound of history calms me
allows for patterns in the evening sky
can anyone here say jazz
can anyone here introduce themselves in a form of art that speaks without hesitation

and now I can enjoy harlem river drive
and enjoy the silent skyline of your notes softly landing on the dash board like rain

its the smell of jazz on your breath, like the smell of
morning always allowing alliteration to find its home in
the rhythm section

and then as if on cue atmosphere raises her hand
and I remember the color of her dress was the color of early evening jazz

you have always been a part of my favorite things