Tuesday, 27 April 2021

Tuesday Poem: "Naima" by Edward Kamau Braithwaite

 

for John Coltrane

Propped against the crowded bar
he pours into the curved and silver horn

his old unhappy longing for a home


the dancers twist and turn

he leans and wishes he could burn

his memories to ashes like some old notorious emperor


of rome. but no stars blazed across the sky when he was born

no wise men found his hovel. this crowded bar

where dancers twist and turn


holds all the fame and recognition he will ever earn

on earth or heaven. he leans against the bar

and pours his old unhappy longing in the saxophone.

by Edward Kamau Braithwaite


For more information on poet, Edward Kamau Braithwaite, see:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/kamau-brathwaite

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