A Jazz

The darkened face next to
Me taps, taps his jolly

Toes to the marvelous
Beat of unforgotten

Jazzy riffs. You know how
That rat-scat-a-tat-tat

Of sizzling snare solos
Tempestuous trumpet

Blows and the tap, toe, tap
From Vaudeville, music hall

Ladies and Gents can stir
Even the lazy hearts

Of crooked businessmen
And cantankerous crones.

Beat-a-beat-bop-doo-bop
Say the footsteps of old

And young hearts in love and
In like, teaching the world

A contemporary
Rain dance. A dance for life.