385

385

BUD POWELL : Tea for Two (take 6)

Bud lifts the fallboard

And shakes out his suit sleeves.

A greyed log punches in and the air swells

Around it and the fire engorges and rises

In a curtain about the ashen wood, and all

Hangs for one moment in a sound that is

Like the going-under of a tremendous ship—

And—

Bum,

Bum. Ray Brown,

Ladies and gentlemen!

And—

Shadabadebelaresebequemelevebrip—

The curtain of flame parts and figures in light

Dance in the movement of the air in the grate.

Earl Rudolph is building something now :

Somewhere in the joint a micstand goes down,

As if by sheer force—hit it, Bud, hit it! Tight!—

And—

Whooee! Cinders go up, shaking, over

The water where a steamer is passing.

The streets are dark. Mon amour,

Come back with me. Je t'assure,

We'll drink a glass, Je vais t'aimer

And I'll take you home. Pour toujours.

The snare hisses like leaves. Old Buddy,

My love is coming down, I am lonely,

All is ending, season and year and life too :

I am living in the smoke of Jim Beam

And in the dull grey sea-smoke of myself.

Tempo, tempo, tempo.

The fire evacuates. He has cigarette ash

On the lap of his pants. “You boys git up.

I'm ready, and first I will have another.”