Something a little different from golf today – my new poem “Jazz Cat.” Hope you like it:) We’ll get back to golf tomorrow.
The Sound and the Furry of the One and Only Jazz Cat
By Jay Flemma, © 2011 All Rights Reserved
Quiet li’l tabby who sits on the sill,
Dozing and yawning and stretching until
The last ray of sunset will fade from the sky
And moonlight will greet us, while day says “goodbye.”
That’s when he’ll rise from his cat-perch by day
And head to the Jazz Club all evening to play!
He’ll tickle the ivories, delight one and all
A cat virtuoso who leaves us enthralled.
Jazz Cat, my Jazz Cat, come play me a song,
Jazz Cat, my Jazz Cat, we’ll all sing along!
We’ll meow and we’ll purr and we’ll yowl through the night
We’ll caterwaul sprightly till morning’s first light,
The mice on the drums and a dog on the bass,
And his girlfriend Cherise dressed in satin and lace.
He’ll play for some sweet cream, he’ll play for some fish,
Just leave him some catnip or treats in his dish.
He really likes salmon with aged cheddar cheese,
And olive martinis…he’s easy to please!
Jazz Cat, my Jazz Cat, you play and we dance,
We’ll Charleston, boogie, and Foxtrot and prance.
He allures one and all by the light of the moon.
And his savoir faire makes the girl kitties swoon.
He knows all the standards, he knows all the hits,
Why he’s even mastered the difficult bits!
There’s “Night in Tunisia” or “How High the Moon”
Or else “Ornithology.” Cats love that tune!
There’s “Hot House,” “Salt Peanuts,” and “Oop Bop Sh’bam”
Just call out a song, and he’ll kick down the jams!
Jazz Cat, my Jazz Cat, there’s no one like you,
For Jazz Cat our love will forever be true!
Come ole Billy Taylor, come Diz, Prez, and Bird
Come Basie, come Django, and hear what we’ve heard!
Come all the Archangels like Ella the Fair,
Roy Haynes, Charlie Mingus, and Stan Getz are there!
We heard Miles Davis and John Coltrane say,
“It’s really the Jazz Cat that taught us to play.”
And Thelonious Monk on ten Bibles would swear
“It’s feline-ious music beyond all compare!”
Santana and Bono and Sting know his name
And Clapton and Keith Richards drink to his fame!
Yes, all the greats clamor to be seen with him,
(Even Trey Anastasio begs to sit in!)
Jazz Cat, my Jazz Cat, the World at your feet,
Enchanted and charmed by your be-boppy beat.
The joyous moon beams and the stars smile down,
Both you and your music the toast of the town.
But when the sun rises, he wanders back home
To lay by the window and wait there alone
Sitting there sentinel, guarding the house
Nothing else stirring, not even a mouse.
Back to his life as a housecat by day
Nobody knows him, a secret it stays,
That he captivates all with his talent by night,
Musical prowess a singular sight.
Jazz Cat, my Jazz Cat, it’s you that we love
Divine music sent us from Heaven above.
(Dedicated to Jazz the cat, my favorite writing buddy.)
THE SOUND AND THE FURRY! IT’S JAZZ CAT!
