The season finally slumps

and in the tender light behind the pane,
tired glances over swirling glasses-

couples pretend worlds
from their worn leather couches
and fade away on a warm brass note.



©2015 Alex Bex - www.alexbex.net

she counts the stars
above her head
they shine bright,
they gleam and they glow,
but her future grows dim.
the tunnel closes day by day
her skin turns dark
her lips turn pale
she thinks on dreams and empty promises
and sweet nothings.
but somehow, she lives.
her heart beats, second by second
a hot, molten heart
It stretches her skin
pounds further and further out of her chest.
What would you do with a molten heart?
Her heart grew too hot for her body to bear
It burned her hands and feet and face, so
it turned cold. she turned cold.
it chilled her. It chilled her veins and
her bones and
her mind, and it set her free.

This is a poem,
***** the rules.

Messy, 'specially on Sundays.
Feet a'shamble from stumblin' drunkhappy.
"It's all good, baby," Blakey yells over the drums.

Bourbon flavored women hard to swallow
with their jagged softness. Smoking section (whites) stares
down dance floor (everyone else) with guilt induced jealousy.

Coltrane's back in Philly studyin.'
Pinstriped chuckle from the Rosenbergs;
kinetic energy giving birth to the cool.

The trumpeter's high turns his tool into a weapon.
The sound briefly stealing him from his demons.
"I'll find a guy when I finish my set."

Black and white televisions: blacks in white suites
Smiling china white for an all white audience.
The movers, to this point, have only been black.

Little hero Harry thinks
  blacks and whites should die on the battlefield together.
Everyone's starting to get it.

"That guitar sweeter than my old lady."
Charlie and Miles holding each other's needles
while Thelonious and his hard candy go bad.

Leanin' on bricks in a back alley.
The circle passes the joint around like the good times.
"Just keep em rollin."

The skirts expand and deflate wildly to the rhythm.
Pure sweat melting into the floors like drops of water on roots.
A melody never heard before.