Unexpected Presence On Christmas Eve
written by: Catherine Lee
How do you date the onset of union?
A first kiss wetting on West Paterson NJ
jazz bar stair? or before? —
the poetry foretold itself, somebody else’s poem.
Prior to that private reading we bought each other drinks
ambiguous, in the Christmas spirit
with just a hint of icebreaker.
Our eyes met before that, even
across the piano, six candle-lit, calico tablecloths,
and the shoulder of an unsuspecting
Scotch-and-soda drinker.
Haven’t I seen you someplace before? Boston, perhaps?
Your gait was familiar
the tune — love for sale indeed —
but I could barely place the name
put finger on a place.
Funny you should ask
did I see
Lee Morgan’s piano player
Max Roach’s, Freddy Hubbard’s,
Dexter Gordon’s, Woody Shaw’s, Johnny Griffin’s
but that night Bobby Hutcherson’s
piano player’s shortish, deft, delicate, and
elegantly sensual bi-toned hands.
That time I thought
I was sitting close enough.
But my dear good man
to date the onset of our union, to chart the conception —
when an initial date would be in fact reunion —
I regret
anticipate
to admit
I don’t yet know you well enough.
- Star Dusted Dear - January 13, 2021
- Unexpected Presence On Christmas Eve - December 24, 2018
- Hope At Solstice - December 21, 2018
