Sonnets From Other Lives: Freeze

That joint used to jump back in the day.
Cats be blowing jazz you wou’n’t believe.
Chicks so cool you freeze yo lips, OK?
Man--those sounds--those cats--those nights--that scene..
Cat I knew then could out Mingus Mingus.
He DROVE that bass like it was some hot rod.
I’d just sit there starin at his fingers..
Cats like that--you know they touched by God.
He could have been great but smack took him down
before he could become the next big thing.
That scene is gone now--nobody’s around
no more. Just tourists & them kids & their nose rings.
I’d go back there but fuckit what’s the point?
So help me out man--spare a cat a joint?