A Night in Tunisia

on the streets of Tunisia

lie amon’ the fracas

n' ruckus

is a jazz big band,

.

rumblin’, bumpin’, and screamin’,

a quintet rollin' past stone

down mosaic stairs,

.

as if they were a rollin'

timbre of a snare,

sizzlin' n' sputterin'

crashin' symbols rainin'

.

ratta-tatt-tatt-tap they come

bebop-bop-rebop-bop he blares

thump-thump-th'mp his fingers pang

.

for his sax sang the weeping soul

from the streets—

in the squares—

.

to soothe these poor spirits night

brought a jazz big band tonight

did those men play,

conjurin’

the souls of their forefathers

.

in jubilation

that filled their chests

with liberté!