Brief Picnic in Paradise

Harlem Jazz Parlor

New York, USA

August 2006

555 Edgecombe Ave., Apt. 3F

felt like an international airport

friends and strangers

sitting shoulder to shoulder

on folding metal chairs

Sugar Hill breeze enters

enlivening white lace curtains

strings and winds

and voice reach

unite and touch

winds from deep within

blow through brass

heart guides fingers

through strings

strumming us all

tears fill eyes then flee

making room for more

soul beauty

any hate or malice

chased by clapping hands

bobbing heads and

tapping feet

keyboard speaks love

word from within

instruments of holiness

we’re here

room’s alive

walls ‘r dancin’

nothin’s square

all’s wild

alright

now you’re talkin’

that’s right sister

go girl

Marjorie, show us your stuff

go on, Bob

tell it to us

now you’re at it

Uh-huh…

Mmmm…

Oooo…

Take us there…

Sunday afternoon

picnic in paradise

Sugar Hill breeze enters

enlivening white lace curtains

savoring sounds

filling hearts

lifting off

into the skies

multiple destinations

eyes close as we

travel close and faraway

as hand travels across wood and four strings

we are lifted to encounters with creation

can make them laugh or cry

make us cry or laugh

make them rain or thunder

make it thunder and rain

make quiet love still

from parlor

separateness and oneness

to multiple worlds

we land again together

open our eyes

exchange kisses and hugs

looks and touches

utter next time

as we head back downstairs

to our distinct and common lives

Take us there…

Sunday afternoon

picnic in paradise

Sugar Hill breeze enters

enlivening white lace curtains …

sharing thanks with

Naceo Giles

Ingrid Schwarzkopf

Jael Silliman

Kathryn Touré

Bamako, Mali