Beat-Jazz in a Minute of Soul

Hear this, fear this, or maybe just see this: 

Jazz-rap spits syllables simmering

just below boiling behind a brother 

who knows anger, 

lives in under a bridge, 

next to a streetlight flickering out, 

beside a coffee can filling with dirty rain.

After a while he see’s  a little kid 

dressed in shock and wrapped in rags, 

he’s even got a gnarly baseball cap on. 

Talk to him 

and the colors of night swirl 

until this man wakes up atop a rag-mattress,

gets up in the morning light 

muted a little by curtains so old, 

rubs sleep out of his eyes 

and stretches it out of his back and thighs

listen: 

streets outside hum and thrum in a soft rhythm of 

their own jazz that’s so Beat 

Ginsberg himself would’ve screamed with joy, 

but all this man does is get up, 

walk to take a piss, 

then walk to eat breakfast, 

thinking, 

“… all of this will end.”

Author's Note

All that I want to point out should be self-evident. Some of it might reward some digging, but that's up to you.

Reviews

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

"Jazz-rap spits syllables simmering" awesome sound! very beat to me


"streets outside hum and thrum in a soft rhythm of
their own jazz that’s so Beat" here you go again! demonstrating - yeah!

To me, this speaks of the life in the streets, life that could inspire and yet, this man will not see it. I also think from the last line, that what he heard of the sound, the magic he thinks will end, and yet beat goes on and recycles in new ways, new street sounds, new rhymes and thoughts. I am perhaps very jumbled in writing this....perhaps, I should say that I have revisited this page several times and given this poem thought - heck, i even listened to Ginsberg's Howl again - have it from a reading he gave.... so much to say this feels, it breathes for me.

[UnendingOceans]

Never a bad thing to revisit Howl. :)

To me, lots of things have rhythm, just walk downtown, wherever you're at, and listen to what's going on. Might be a broken beat or a stuttered rhythm, but it'll be there. I love writing with that in mind - that so much that we dismiss or don't pay attention to has music to it.

Thank you for digging into this so much. It's what I've always wanted people to do with my writing. What's more, you clearly dug it! So thanks for being a part of the conversation. :)

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

It was a delight! Great poem!

[MOON]

This is heartbreaking yet you give it dignity poignant lovely write.

[UnendingOceans]

Thank you, man. :)