January 2023

by Bob McNeil

Through a Harlem Hotel window,

I heard the day imitate “Rhapsody in Blue.”

One clarinet wheeled in howling.

Later, there were rush hour notes

from saxophones, trumpets,

woodwinds and violins.

Besides their vehicular tonality,

there were additional instruments

arousing my tympanum.

Then, the day swung to another rhythm

and its Chick-Webb-fast drumming life

was beckoning my feet.

Opposing my slow drag dance mood,

the alarm yelled,

“Since Duke Ellington’s A Train

won’t nap, out tap the Nicholas Brothers

and do Cab Calloway’s ‘Jumpin’ Jive.’”

On a queen-sized bed,

an Oshun-picturesque seductress,

who should have been Billie Holiday’s twin,

said hello in that way good gin gets you.

Inebriated by everything she stated,

I heard her say,

“In our jam, you grooved well, real well,

but don’t exit until after the encore kisses, crooner.”

My response was all raspy,

similar to Louis Armstrong’s exuberance

when he sang “Hello, Dolly.”

A few coughs into my sentence,

my voice became Chet Baker’s.

Either the coffee or her kisses

made my hangover recede and it revealed her name.

Her name was Jazlynn, but she preferred to be known as Jazz.

1. Oshun: A Goddess in the Yoruba religion who controls love and wealth, etc.                           

by Bob McNeil

Copyright 2018



In addition to Bare Back Magazine, Bob McNeil was published in Whirlwind Magazine, The Shout It Out Anthology, Brine Rights: Stanzas and Clauses for the Causes (Volume 1), Not My President, A Lime Jewel, Year of the Poet, Writers’ World Newspaper, We Cry for Peace (Swords of Words Book 2), The Annual Review of the Florence Poets Society, San Francisco Peace and Hope, and The Self-Portrait Poetry Collection, etc.

Bob McNeil once said, “Each human is isolated in a hermitage of skin and bones.  Conversation with another mortal releases us from ourselves.   Through language, we create windows to give people insights into who we are as individuals.  Creative writing works the same way.  Every literary creation is a cathartic testimonial to the world.  For me, motivation to write comes from a compulsion to grapple with personal problems or global problems.  Because of those two extremes, my imagination is always busy.”