Short Ellington Poems

Today I’m thankful for swings
for those feelings of freedom and flying that it brings…

I think Duke Ellington understood 
the wonders that they bring…
when he sang…
Life don’t mean a thing…
if it ain’t got that swing 

...

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Danced with
Conceived and born
Sung to and nursed
On a downy soft quilt

Transfused with
Vibrations of Ellington
Basie, Crosby, Waller
Goodman and Armstrong

Skyrocketed spiritually 
By Kern and Carmichael
Porter, Gershwin and Berlin

Thanks Mom and Dad
For the beautiful music
We made together
On that bed of downy softness...

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Just listen to Satchmo,
      Jams by Duke Ellington,
    James Clay's moving tenor
  John Coltrane's fine Post-Bop
       Joyous uptempo tunes...
         Jiggle hips like Jello!
   Jump and jive, why don't cha?




Pleiades 2 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May
Date written: 10/15/2020

Note: "Satchmo" is the nickname of late, great Jazz legend, Louis Armstrong....

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Ellington is sitting and tinkling the black and white keys
Coltrane standing and blowing like an autumn breeze

Mood__

Nostalgic, misty-eyed, and feelings of tenderness 
Her sweet perfume lingers, her velvety voice echoes, and her sweet caress I cherish 

Sentimental__

Relishing, missing, and longing for a distant but not forgotten yesterday 
Today, I sit alone. Alone in a sentimental mood as my heart asks, "Why did she have to go away?"...

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