Closing Time
Face half hidden in darkness
half revealed by the deep blue spot
he speaks of love and moonlight
through the mouthpiece of the horn
past the valves
and out the gleaming bell
Piano player
sets up pretty dominoes
for the trumpet to softly knock down
he knows his way around
those ivory keys
Side man on skins
shuffles the deck
with steel brushes
marking off beats on a sheet
that ain't never been wrote
Bass man pulls the strings
pours his sad, sad life into the music
eyes closed
rocking gently then back
head nodding
to rest his chin
on each note
Deep breathy sax drips honey
in a minor key
round notes roll like train cars
on a midnight track
keeping time with the heartbeat
of the song
playing overtime
for a two dollar beer
Copyright © Mark Dixon | Year Posted 2018
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