miles davis

By Amin Sharif

i saw him

on a night thick

with heat

an epiphany

of air conditioned

manhood

he was then

stingy

brim hats &

italian knit shirts

were greeted

at the waist by

silk & wool pants

then—

under a spotlight

he said—

it's judgment day

but Gabriel ain't here

he got a gig

playing in some

club called

purgatory

so I'll blow

cool

it was all

about

being cool 

then

the notes

he played

were

dark naked &

lonely as

old whores

aching &

pensive as grave stones

considering eternity

the meaning

of them

as deep as verses

from the holy books

that was how

miles played

then

anthems for a

manchild lost

but it

was all cool

then—

before death

swept away

every

prophet from

the earth.