Diana Darby ** "I V" ** Intravenous

Jazz

I’m slipping down into the disconnect,
into the quiet
sideways
mind
of notes
squawking like chickens
arching and bending
into so much disharmony.
The non-rhythm of rhythm.
The back slide of voices.
The cool kettle of drums
and tinkle of high hat.
The back and forth slow of sound,
like water on glue,
hanging on
for a moment,
then falling
down,
down,
down.
Catch me
if you can.
Under the red
neon light
I am sputtering,
staggering to my feet,
leaning like a drunk man
from side to side,
trying to make sense of the room,
trying to undo the years.
The smoke wafts and curls around me like
a hot schoolgirl.
And now
the slow slow burn
of forbidden
love,
settling down into the inevitable.
Wake me brother.
I am having a
bad
bad
dream.