Hornithology
(For John Sinclair set to Ornithology by Charlie Parker)
1
i’m thinking of you standing on the corner
joint in my hand, in my head plays a band
i thought i’d write a head for you
for all that you did it’s the least I can do
for all what you wrote on the blues is true
and so I’m asking what can we do?
as long as you stay in my head
i’ll be feeling well and read
(we cut our own path and on we tread
but don’t forget to go to bed)
2
we’ll always have your music and your writing
to brighten our day, and show a new way
i really miss your singing and laugh
but inside my heart I have your autograph
outer space bop and anti-gravity craft
obli be bop blamster dam
dizzy bird and monk and rap
muddy sonny ra and fats
(ginsberg burroughs kerouac
hope your happy in you nap)
3
i wonder how it is up in the jukebox
up there in the mix with mingus hendrix
and all the rockin’ jams that you love
all the swinging cats an’ the poets you dug
dancing like a teenager to wolf and bud
i hear you speaking in my dreams
a yusef miles and coltrane breeze
roll up a scroll an’ cheers our teas
(a drop of honey lemon squeeze
in the land of ooh blah dee)
–Steve Fly
Amsterdam, 2nd April 2025.
For John Sinclair (R.I.P)
DEEP SCRATCH 