Sunday, May 02, 2010



I used to visit all the very gay places
those come what may places
where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
to get the feel of life
from jazz and cocktails
the girls I knew had sad and sullen gray faces
with distant gay traces
that used to be there you could see where
they'd been washed away
by too many through the day
twelve o'clocktails


Rosemary and Lauren were sitting on the tiny chairs by the tiny tables that are in the children’s section of the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library. There was a pleasant woman also sitting there with two children, a little boy and a little girl.


Then you came along with your siren's song
to tempt me to madness
I thought for a while that your pointed smile
was tinged with the sadness
of a great love for me
ah yes I was wrong
again I was wrong



I looked at the woman and recognized her but I decided to play coy. She stared at me and said, “You must want to sit here, too. Is that the case?” - “No, I have seen you before.” - “Where would that be?” - “At a posh party and you were wearing a beautiful dress.” - “I am not sure that would have been me.” - “You are a jazz singer.” - She smiled. “You are June Katz.” - I introduced my wife and granddaughter to her. She told us her grandson was called Shay and her daughter Ella. “Why are you called Ella?” - I am named for Ella Fitzgerald.”


Life is lonely again
and only last year
everything seemed so assured
now life is awful again
and the thoughtful of heart
could only be a bore



Thinking about the ultimate version of that most difficult jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn, Lush Life I told June Katz, “I divide jazz singers into two camps. In one camp I put the many that are unable to sing Lush Life. Into the other I put those that can. On which side would you be?” - “I can, and I do sing Lush Life and I have been told that my version, in my third CD, is the definitive Vancouver version."


A week in Paris will ease the bite of it
all i care is to smile in spite of it
I'll forget you I will
and yet you are still
burning inside my brain


There was an announcement that the library was going to close in 35 minutes. We said our goodbyes with smiles on our faces and I went to look for Rebecca in the teen section.



Romance is mush
stifling those who strive
I'll live a lush
life in some small dive
and there I'll be
while I rot with the rest
of those whose lives are lonely too