Jelly Roll by Kevin Young (Knopf, 2003)

Some favourite passages:


If only I'd read

the moss on the tree!
instead of shaking

it for fruit--

from "Cakewalk"

You burn me

at both ends, send

the geese bumping

within my skin.

end of "Jitterbug"

Your bordeaux dress

uncorked, let's

breathe awhile

from "Boogaloo"

...your noisy

nudity--

O the brass of your body!

sliding, trombone-

style....

from "Break"

O the far-flung

morning, a moon

still among it!

from "Calypso"

Lady, you are my Mobile,

Alabama--lowdown & too hot

for human habitat--

opening of "Ramble"

Drive until sun stares

me down. Radio & the cicadas

with their static wings--

I am singing

to myself again.

opening of "Saxophone Solo"

Tonight even the storm

cannot calm me.

from "Slide Guitar"

Outside azaleas bloom loud

& red like ambulances

rushing to save someone

or at least try.

*

Lights out--

we navigate

the colding house,

feel for matchbooks

which you save

to bring light, I

to remember where

I been.

*

Ice turns even

the trees heavy

& helpless, all

morning falling--

a song of breaking--

winter & plunder.

from "Pastorale"

...take down

the tarnished stars, my breath

will shine them up new. 

from "Cotillion"

In the UK, you can buy Jelly Roll from Abe Books here.