"H"
HeartJazz
by
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HEARTJAZZ
Gently willed but magically irresistible
harmonizing profound universal feelings
blending nature with a novel sense of genius
cheerful in calm appearance and admiration
indifferent to any immediate reputation
nervous in the joyous beauty of speculation
a heart depicts imagination's adaptation.
Lyrically secluded but perceptively passionate
braving a sympathetic search for suffering
daring a desire to exist in exquisite intensity
devoted to indisputable notes of conception
pursuing pleasant-sounding pictures of self
inflamed with the familiarity of the tune
a mind sings of its transcendent visions.
Symbolically portraying with improvised syllables
applying a word for each note of experience
echoing the chords of feverish enthusiasm
attaining a meaning of the movement in moods
entranced by ethereal tones of laughing and weeping
interpreting the rhythm of the elements of the soul
a poet relates the language of life in accompaniment.
HOLY ROLLER
On the fence line of the school yard
I sit in the granite gravel like an old peddler
holding my wily-worth in an ancient leather bag
filled with exotic spheres of several sizes
tiny wonderful worlds sold for skill.
A boy waddles down the stairs holding the rail
stopping to see my plenteous possessions
and stoops to press a snotty finger into the dirt
holding out a scabby palm full of my hopeful future affluence
strange and colorful goods cracked from ancient attacks.
He picks a peewee with a fudge-knuckling press
and squirts the tiny ball toward the small hole
perfectly shooting my dreams of his wares
out of my winning ways and into his greedy grasp
my sack filled with striking orbs now his.
But I still have one remaining try left
as fingers probe a little ball from a corduroy pocket
removing the gingerbread crumbs from its silver surface
the shiny walls of sterling chrome beam stainlessness
and the boy's jaw falls in utter amazement at the sight.
I lean down toe-to-circle and knuckle-to-line
in the self-assured manner of my mentor
a straight shooter from an old west fable
hand prepared on hip to gun down terror
and release the steely sphere towards the hollow.
He hollers loudly and begins to blubber
as I grab both his Durham and my leather pouch
filled with exotic orbs and a world of knowledge
I keep that one glistening globe in a gingerbread pocket
the resurrection of my marshal never distant.
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About the Book
Self-realization is the free, complete and total expression of all the complex instincts and impulses found within us, and harmonizing the endeavor into this unique compilation and understanding of the language is a completeness in consciousness for me.
Some things never go out of style, like literary classics, timeless phrases and good Jazz. My passion for Jazz and attack of the senses to identify and interpret life and self through poetry are life long pleasures. Composing personal truths, chaos and sensuality into compelling verse gives me a good sense of the musical artist's labors. So, if in drafting and redrafting a line, deleting words that don't fit, and inserting those that say what I want but identify with others, leads you to discover some elusive epiphany, then I have succeeded in inspiring your heart to dance with mine. Thus, the title for this book, HeartJazz.
HeartJazz is my expression of self-image and self-comprehension but it is also the same magical or perhaps absurd moment you may have scribbled a line vis-à-vis or spoken about to a friend. Either way, I give you my perceptions, consenting to your conceptions, and wish you a happy life, a world of words without strife.
About the Author
John Christopher Evanoff has published poetry, prose and short stories in national and international journals and local publications since he was 15 years old. He joined the Marine Corps in 1967 during the Vietnam conflict and worked as a news and photo correspondent for the Joint Informational Services Organization. He attended the University of Nevada-Reno, several California Colleges and Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno. A prolific feature writer for numerous college publications over the years, he won the 1997 Nevada/California Regional Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Literary Award. He also won the Honors Topic Literary Scholarship for three successive years while at TMCC. Competing against more than 5000 chapter officers from the USA, Canada, Japan and Germany, John won the 1998 Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished Chapter Officer Gold Medal for his writings and service. He was elected to Who's Who in American Colleges and was named to the National Deans List. He currently resides in Palm Desert with his wife Sharon of 30 years and is completing a third book of poetry, a second screenplay, a scifi trilogy and a second book of short stories and past written website columns. John is a Notary Signing Agent and works with many local charities and service organizations including the Local Jazz Orchestra.