Saint John

Written for the jazz poetry night at Mexborough on October 1st 2017 - a poem about the veneration of saxophonist John Coltrane and some haikus about my experiences with Jazz.

This is absolutely true - Google it if you don't believe me.

John Coltrane in 1963

Saint John

In San Francisco there's a place
where you can pray, raise up your face
and the music runs at a jazzy pace
- the St. John Coltrane Church

To paint the globe with a message of love
from the legend, the saint, who plays above
with the resonant sound of the mourning dove
at the St. John Coltrane Church

For the saint who so very sweetly blew;
Davis, Armstrong, Ella too,
Billie, Charlie, they'll connect with you
at the  St. John Coltrane Church

Meditate and calm your mind
you will your own true freedom find
in his Spiritual notes you'll be entwined
at the  St. John Coltrane Church


Jazz Haiku

Smoky cellar bar
Cologne, Nineteen eighty nine
My very first live jazz

City of Angels
Warm evening, cold beer, hot jazz
Fast playing trio

Prague, city of jazz
Students, playing for some cash
All different styles

Vltava river
Jazz boat, stranded by the fog
Can't stop the music

(c) Tim Fellows 2017