silence…
quiet between you and me…
wanting to hear…
shouts…whispers…
notes plucked on an old stand-up bass…
keys stroked by Bill Evans…punches from McCoy…the moans of Keith Jarrett…
calling-out to Mingus…calling-out to Mingus…

but there is silence…
you are not speaking…
nor laughing…
and there is no jazz…
no poetry read aloud in mid-dim light….
night-time gets lonely…

no no no kisses in my ear….
nothing wet upon lips…
just quiet….too quiet…
this rented room longs for you….
amongst checked-out library books…old sweatshirts….wilted lamp posts…ripened bananas….day old coffee…
you are not here…

listen…
your voice is within…
jazz is in the soul…
and kisses remembered…
you were not in love huh…
tis a pity…

you could’ve fooled me….