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Callaloo 23.4 (2000) 1317-1318



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Rabbit
for Johnny Hodges

Brian Gilmore


he let a song out
of his heart
that was soft
and seductive
an old
creole man
showed him
how to make the ladies
want to walk towards
the stage and
remove their
clothes
he's out on the road
long way from
massachusetts
"saxophone ghetto"
harry carney
toots mondello
on
alto
or soprano
singing of
warm valleys where
he and his lady
could hold hands and talk about
all the days when they slept apart
in beds that seemed
too large
singing so pure [End Page 1317]
reminded
everyone
of cane sugar
song of the south
daydream days
time stands still
takes you
another place
lay in a field of
"passion flowers"
look up at the sky
see a long line
of beautiful women
walking slowly towards
a sax player
removing their clothes
piece by
piece
by piece
until every one of
them stands
completely nude
each woman a
part of his song
each piece of
clothing
removed
a note
he knew

had

to
be
heard . . .



Brian Gilmore, a resident of Takoma Park, Maryland, was born in Washington, DC. This practicing attorney is author of two books of poems, Elvis Presley Is Alive and Well and Living in Harlem and Jungle Nights and Soda Fountain Rags.

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