“You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice.
And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.” – Charlie Parker
Wail. You understand, don’t you. Grief or fear.
Pitched high like an angel discovering
Earth’s fate. Prolonged, like aimless, fiery tear
of falling star, at some point hovering,
then burning out. Like Bird burning, wailing.
His alto sax stabbing you, then healing
you through pain…his clean, somber tone trailing
across your flesh like a woman stealing
your heart and more. His alto sax resting
in light at the Smithsonian while his
melody and memory keep testing
us…listening now to “If I Should Lose
You”…he’s hurrying through…as if feeling
he’s burning out…seeing angels kneeling…
Roger Armbrust
August 29, 2020
