Welcome to Hiram Larew!

Photo by Chris Thomas/President's Malaria Initiative

Tonight I'm posting the poems that Hiram Larew, a DC-area poet, sent me a while back.  Enjoy!  Thank you, Hiram, for sending these poems.

UP ON TOP

Mark my words --

cakes are cakes

and there will always be someone

who’s better than you.

Of course

that’s why we have years on years

to cast about.

It’s also true that

as surely as you won’t you will change

eventually

like grass does at any fence.

I know because I know.

Up on top remember this --

children never notice the weather

because really all that days do 

is float by.

Here is a lovely poem!

Image by www_AMP_watch on Pixabay

DON’T YOU KNOW

When I know exactly what to say

In ways that hum even better than trees

Then I’ll step up to woo you

Solid                                                             

But for now what I do  

very badly

Is a dazed is-that-so look --

All I’m good for is just staring

And in case it matters

My legs are like mud 

So I can hardly imagine moving or doing or really even trying

But in fact I do take take heart from  

this Spring breeze called maybe

and from that somewhere that has hardly sung

in years

I feel a future coming that will stop at least

long enough to wink --

Blink is how I love you

Don’t make me tell you in any other way. 

MY WISH FOR YOU

Music can live alone

Water does run uphill

October’s leaves will blow into piles

Battles somehow dissolve into fernshade.

Take courage as you crack these eggs --

No, what happens isn’t fair 

But I promise

It’s ten times juicier than the moon. 

Larew's poems have recently found page space in Contemporary American Voices, The Wild Word, Viator and Voices Israel.  On Facebook at Hiram Larew, Poet and at Poetry X Hunger.

As for music, since my husband and I just came from listening to Delfeayo Marsalis' quintet, I'll post his music.

This is "Autumn Leaves" where Marsalis is joined by his father, his brother Jason, and his bassist.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krg7MFgxJAM

Our evening started with "Tin Roof Blues":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86yR5mi0kU4&list=PLsCEZ4uHKyzHpG8c7IunttPHmUMfi1EHC

Here is a live version of "Cantelope," so you'll get some of the club experience.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YBsz_S2SEU

I'll finish with his Uptown Jazz Orchestra's version of "Skylark":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAirkl__R1Q&index=4&list=PLKcMrGJt81w9ZxnknxBFdDxKxLO3kqfeV