Drumline • HBC Atlanta • Jazz Music - African American Art

Listening to jazz now
by Jimmy Santiago Baca

Listening to jazz now, I'm happy
sun shining outside like it was my lifetime achievement award.

I'm happy, with my friend and her dog up in Durango, her emailing
me this morning no coon hound ailing yowls vibrant I love yous.
I'm happy,
my smile a big Monarch butterfly
after having juiced up some carrots, garlic, seaweed,
I stroll the riverbank, lazy as a deep cello in a basement bar--

smoke, cagney'd out patrons
caramel and chocolate women in black
shoulder strap satin dresses,
and red high heels.