We were asked to write a poem about ourselves by the wonderful poetic collective, Poets United. I chose the musical facet, because everybody’s been deluged with too much about my mental health and Wisconsin/national politics lately! So consider this an early Hanukkah present…
THE HIGH CHURCH OF JAZZ
Faceless in the realm of True Believers
Nightclubs were my church
Midnight congregations
Not Sunday stewards
Saturday night souls hungry for the words
Holding fast to faith in
languid, lazy Hoagie
self-indulgent Cole
snobby, snappy Noel
Billie and Judy, my fallen risen angels
The smoky cloud of witnesses
for souls such as I
A baby grand, my heaven
our voices, the choir
Music, my religion
controllable, comforting balm
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
Amen to all of that. You chose some great heros!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Viv. They are truly among the many greats from whom I have learned so much over the years. Amy
Sue
Music, penultimate balm indeed.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much for this, Sue, and glad you are “staying tuned”! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh and such a great religion, too……….I can see the smiling eyes and happy faces of people groovin’ to your beat, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
It was at one time my only religion, and it sustained me in a very spiritual way. Gave me access to the self-esteem I lacked at the time, too. A
John Greenwood
Enjoyed hearing you write. Sweet sound indeed.
Sharp Little Pencil
John, thanks so much. I’m off to visit you now! Amy
Debbie
You chose your words so well, Amy . . .like the poet you are! Thank you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Bless you, Debbie, I loved this comment. Amy
Janet
You had me with the first two lines WOW, and the ending, beautiful, but tinged with longing and sadness. Love it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Dear Janet, thanks so much for visiting! I’m so glad you connected with this poem, as it was a large part of my life…I’m off to visit you now! Peace, Amy
Ella
I love these lines and blending yourself with the music of your soul~
“A baby grand, my heaven
our voices, the choir
Music, my religion
controllable, comforting balm”
Really wonderful view~
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Ella. And you certainly have the perfect first name for commenting on jazz! Amy
Susannah
I loved this. Wonderful! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Susannah, thanks so much for this lovely comment! Amy
Roger Green
Singing to the choir here!
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, yeah, Roger. I am keenly aware of that! Ha ha ha, Amy
The Background Story
this is interesting 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for stopping – I checked out your blog and found it very intriguing! Amy
Eric
Music is a great religion. Attend mass whenever possible, take communion wherever you can.
Sharp Little Pencil
Preach it, brother! It’ll even preach with us Prods! ha ha
Coming your way now, Eric. Peace, Amy
Buddah Moskowitz
Spoke directly to me – from Miles to Django to Monk to Frishberg, I am forever indebted to Roy and Ron Kobayashi for their lifetime tutorial in jazz. – Moskowitz
Sharp Little Pencil
I am not acquainted with Roy and Ron, but bless ’em, for sure. Me, I’m a sucker for anything with good lyrics. Love me some Django, though… and Dave Frishberg and Blossom Dearie – what a combination of composer and muse!! Love, Ameleh
Renee Espriu
I quite love this, Amy. I might have thrown some light on a Jazz singer in a night club but you have given me entry into your personal world that is part of your life and that couldn’t be a better thing to have done. Amazing!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Renee. It’s true that, before other spirituality grabbed me from the abyss, clubs were for me places of worshiping gods named Gershwin, Holiday, and Ellington… Funny that now I’m a pastor’s wife, writing jazz as well as gospel, and of course, my church is Lake Edge UCC. But it’s all part of the journey! Amy
kaykuala
Amy,
Appreciating music is like worshiping grand sounds that ‘soothes the savage breast’ (so said the Bard) The faithful gathered in midnight congregations holding court true to their idols. Accompanied by the strains of the baby grand, it never can be better than that. A clever twist to aptly describe the scenario and like ambience.. Great verse!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Wow, Hank, thanks a lot! You really caught the spiritual aspect of “worshiping grand sounds.” My husband is a pastor now (called after we were married) and once in a while, we bring jazz into the worship, which is most satisfying indeed. You “got” every aspect I was trying to convey! Bless you – Amy
Mary
I really hear your love of music in this poem. “A baby grand my heaven.” It must be great to be able to express oneself through music as you do.
Sharp Little Pencil
Mary, I cannot tell a lie. It’s FABULOUS to sit behind a baby grand and let go, really wail or whisper or do whatever you need to do so the crowd feels as though they are hearing an old classic for the first time, or at least with fresh ears! Thanks, Amy
Carrie Burtt
I can hear it through your words Amy….beautiful!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Check out my jazz site (grossly underused but still there’s a free song on it); click in upper left corner for a listen!
http://www.amybarlowliberatore.com
christine
there is something about Jazz that just goes to the core, heaven for sure
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, yeah!
Madeleine Begun Kane
Wonderful poem!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Mad! Ame
Inside the Mind of Isadora
Oh, those smokey jazz joints. They could lull you to sleep with a sleepy blues tune; then, have you jumpin’ and jivin’ with a dixieland jam.
I like the way you brought it all to life, Amer …
Great ..
Izzy xoxo
Sharp Little Pencil
You know it, babe!
California Ink in Motion
I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. See here for more details!
http://themslvh.wordpress.com/awards-2/liebster-blog-award/
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you for the nomination! I’m so behind on returning comments, I can’t follow up with this!
Lafemmeroar
Love it so much I’m “Digging” it 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Love this comment! Peace, A
wordsandthoughtspjs
Happy Thanksgiving, Amy. Have a wonderful day. I know how you are a lover of music, and it shines in this piece.
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks Pamelita! We are making music every day in Chicago!
Old Raven
Yup … Amy is back. And we are the lucky recipients of her beautiful language. I love this Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Raven, I new you’d enjoy this one. Thanks so much for the compliment! Peace, Amy