there was a fortuitous parking space
in an alley near 7th & race
which was right outside my
tuesday night & the music
a homeless man sat on a concrete bench
beneath a too perfect tree in the adjoining
corporate sponsored park
he smiled at me
as he hummed
the way we were
then looked away
my cross walk became irrelevant
glass door with a silver handle grateful
into the rosemary clooney room
welcomed by a doorman bantering into a smile
and a newly relocated owner gleeful about overflowing tables
entering sparkling
full glide
through a crowded cocktail vigil of cool kids and cast offs
mingling acquaintances and aficionados
comparing scars
sharing polite war stories
so flawed and beautiful
explaining how they know the band
before the late show
the table chosen was in the second row
straight out from the bench of the steinway & sons piano
behind the reserved seats
black cloth immaculate
fred hersch trio playbill
candle no longer lit
my first request of the waiter
is for a match to relight it
as i would not be able to hear the jazz
without the fire burning
my second request was for a manhattan
kitchen clamor and invading garlic and lemon aromas
fade to less
when the show begins
i deprive myself of nothing
as the notes fall from the maestro’s fingers
wind dancing with
the autumn leaves of garfield place
i gaze at the rigging above the stage
beyond the rim
of my just arrived martini glass
a french quarter deep purple dream
the light fixtures
are red velvet wedding cakes
hung upside down
their red inner glow
covered with an off white cream
hovering above
jerome kern, miles davis, and thelonious monk standards
ah, but it was an original piece that turned the world on
entitled sad poet
brought to our feet by a drummer who knows secrets
a bassist making love with his fingers to her supple curves
covered in strings
and a pale humble man
bent in majesty
over a piano
i resist the urge to journalize
leaving notebook and pen in my purse
let it happen for god’s sake let it happen
noticing
the man seated to the right of me
needs this night in the worst way
double johnnie walkers on the rocks
as he anguishes to the delicious sound
the man seated to my left
hopes i am in the mood
for angels to fall
the set includes
skipping
boy
the song is you
and i fall in love too easily
to name a few
a standing ovation coupled with lingering applause
before the room
was left stunned by th gentle encore
the man began to conjure
valentine
with the black and white keys
as the people who were truly seeing the music
bowed their heads
wept
and closed their eyes
i complied
this is when
he touched the back of my hand