All that jazz

Unscripted

Piano filters through the smoke.
Shhh go the cymbals.

An exchange of cash
brings a wealth of melting ice

inflating the whiskey.
The thinned booze still bites.

The minutes, the hours,
are swallowed.

By the bar he rehearses Set 'em up Joe
and perfects a sad face.

The pianist puts away his fingers.
It is time to go.

Outside it is hard to act the hero;
the blood in the gutter is real

and there is no blonde sex-symbol
with her skirt billowing.

The stoned drummer drops a cymbal.
Shhh.


Poem copyright Bernard Young 2011


The artwork has been on my study wall for years. No idea who it's by or I'd have credited the artist.