I love Thelonious Monk.
‘Round Midnight.
‘It begins to tell ‘round
midnight ’round midnight….’
The ghost of Thelonious Monk
visits me in a Monks room behind
a curtain
climb up narrow stars of slate
I am awake in a
small bed
above my head an ancient roof
of beam and thatch
I lie
trying to catch
illusive sleep
the window is open
an owl or did I imagine it ?
Toowit toowoo
who
walks above my head ?
the soft creak
of footsteps on old wood
my mind is simmering
brimful
thoughts tumbling in free fall
air sweet
and cool on my face
the country night sounds
extraordinary
sky soft
dark
without orange urban light
imposing its glare
upon this Devonshire hollow
in the midnight
of its star full darkness
‘I do very well ‘till after
sundown,
suppertime I’m feeling sad but
it really gets bad ‘round midnight’
Lyrics Bernie Hanighen
Music Thelonious Monk
Written in the year of my birth.