elegy - Mom (Anni Ens-1923-2015)

generic  room

white walls         third floor

Concordia hospital and

two dozen roses

pink and yellow

in vases on the windowsill

opening to the sunlight

and this woman

this mother

bruised by life   but undefeated

having won every battle

every fight

with hands of determination

shoulders of patience

tender eyes of beauty

arms of love

high head of courage

quiet solid faith in

                the sheltering wings of God

through tragic loss

fearful famine

world of war

untimely upheaval

mass migration

maze of marriage

house  of children

weary work

bereft widowhood

shrinking old age

this woman

has come to this bed

and this room to defeat death

and live on

in our many        many memories

now open to the sunlight

aufwiedersehn Mama

Pollock at the Met - NYC 2015 (3)

I arrive                  breathless           finding room

at                                            extremity of massive

museum having walked past Rodin marvels

and Impressionists          floating                 on

white walls and                 stop                       in

silence                  plaque says autumn rhythm (

number 30)        and I stand back breathing the

music of the                       paint      drips      that

curve and overlap in dissonance and harmony

browned leaves rustling in gusty swirls the flat

canvas                  envelops             me in a world

of            pleasure and      pain and Beethoven’s

Pathetique plays in my head becoming aware

of            my          breathing            once      again

Christian McBride and his Big Band - NYC 2015 (2)

Manhattan skyline constructs

background

in this jazzy 5^th floor

where

barely fits band swings

McBride’s glasses

reflect the lights from outside

fingers dance double bass

his companion for years

since he was teen

now making magic with 24 cats

in sync with his

rhythmic

laugh

and we sit and

sip our drinks

at hard-edged tables

in wonder at the

perfect

night-time
              architecture of jazz 

Birdland - NYC 2015 (1)

all is suffused with

red glowing light

like truth

at a table for four

red wine poured

mouldings on the railing behind us

have been painted

and repainted

over and over again

not hiding dents and gouges 

listening Dixieland jazz winging rhythms

in free ecstatic bursts

players in casual suits

and accountant glasses

eyes closed tight in joy

for this is life

this is worthy 

this is the red glowing moment