From the Poetic Asides prompt, “Setting The World On Fire.” Remembering some great gigs!
JAZZ AFIRE
Spotlight’s hot tonight
Fresh coffee on the side table
My fingers touch the cool ivories
and all hell breaks loose
Thumping the bass line
Reaching deep, drawing out
the raw fire of jazz within
Souls of legends aflame as I call to them:
Feed my soul, strike the match
Light a fire under my piano bench
til I burn with desire to shout it true
Til the keys melt at my touch
Hellzapoppin at this piano bar
Crowd heats up and calls for more
Coffee’s cold, neglected
but I’m a pyre of pure jazz afire
(c) 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
S.E.Ingraham
Hey Amy,
Just so you know – your link from FaceBook does indeed work but, like mine, it’s a tad slow. I’m sure – or at least this is what I tell myself – most people give up and leave without ever reaching the site ’cause rarely do I get visitors and/or comments. Heavy sigh.
I love your blog incidentally and your poems, of course. I’ve yet to conquer the WordPress format or a new one that intrigues me, TumblR, so am still dancing to the confines of Blogger – not terrible but not as chic as this … keeping the faith and the good fight as I know you are as well. Love Sharon
Sharp Little Pencil
Sharon, we are sisters from another mother. Sorry you are having problems with WordPress; the main advantage for me is an easier OpenID comment ability, as well as more variety in how I set up my blog. Let me know if you have problems.
Thx for letting me know about FB, but I may terminate it, because I didn’t get much in the way of comments. My best avenue for traffic has been other prompts (listed on my homepage here) from such sites as Writer’s Island (which gave me the prompt for the title poem of my chapbook, Dance Groove Funhouse), Sunday Scribblings, and one I especially enjoy, Big Tent Poetry. They all have you leave ONLY your link to your blog. I have made many friends there, along with the occasional whackadoodle!
So if it’s traffic you seek, Poetic Asides will not provide it. But I plan to continue on PA despite the drama!! Will cc this to your email to ensure you get all info. Peace, Amy
poetcolette
Amy I truly love this one! Not only is the poetry awesome but you describe a person who is so good at what they do, they become one with it; it clones their soul. I have never played piano but this poem gave me the same feelings I get when I’m playing tennis.
My body is so natural for athletics… especially tennis. My feet play the court like your fingers melt the keys. I can toy with my opponent or can blow them away at any choice moment. And especially when I’m really in my zone, I feel at one with the court, the ball, my racquet, my rhythm, my ESP-like ability to anticipate the ball — at one with tennis itself. It a beautiful thang!
Not many people can listen to another speak of what they are good at and not hear only hubris (especially when it’s a woman talking). But I love to listen to people describe their abilities and their passions, I think it’s a force from God.
Anyway… may I add you to my blogroll, now that I’m up and running?
Thanks, Colette
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, by all means, add me, and I will add you back!
Thanks for the insight on your talents. No matter what the pursuit, it’s always the same thing: Looking for “the zone,” where it’s hitting the ball or the right note, you know what I mean?
I say everyone should talk about their passions, in poetry or in letters. I believe it’s a force from God too, but that works for me, whereas other folks talk about different sources. Sly: Diff’rent strokes/for diff’rent folks/and so on, and so on, and shoo be doo be doo be…
uponthewingsofnight
When I was a dj in college, we played mostly jazz on our station. I could hear the passion and fire in many of the records that I played(Yes, we still used a lot of vinyl in the late 80s). This poem takes me to those times when I would play some stuff recorded live, like Art Blakey or Miles. Excellent stuff, my friend. Brett
Sharp Little Pencil
I was always a vocals girl, Brett, so if it didn’t have words or was intensely bebop, I never knew the names. Miles is a love/hate affair with me; I don’t like his Bitch’s Brew period – I know, heresy!!! Amy
uponthewingsofnight
You would’ve loved many of the records that were in the music library. I always loved playing Ella Fitzgerald on my daytime shows. At night it was Patti Austin, Michael Franks and Anita Baker.