Hipster is watching,
as you fumble along in life.
Every time you wear last year's ensemble.
Every time you post last year's viral meme.
Every time you use last year's catch phrase.
Hipster is watching
as you turn bland and boneless as butter
tasteless as tap water
dreary as a rainy Monday in flyover country.
Hipster is watching
and is pained,
but plays
Ask Me Now
flawlessly,
the keys reflected cool as cubes in a mai tai
across his
impassive
Sogreto
shades.
_______
for Sunday Muse #199.
top image: Thelonious Monk
His Ask Me Now is a notoriously difficult piece to play.
I love how you effortlessly play the metaphor of what is seen and not seen and all the notes in-between that do not need to be played to be heard. I love "bland and boneless as butter". Wonderful Shay!!
ReplyDeleteI believe hipster knows all of that but he loves us anyway. Monk Magic. That is a beautiful piece you chose.
ReplyDeleteA snapshot of the outsider looking in, and looking away, where something alive might still be found. The judgement isn't cruel, one feels, just analytical; a question of survival. And I am no fan of jazz, but that is indeed a very lovely piece you included.
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate hipster, he was. Your poem flawless as was his ability. Yes, you got me ... a jazz fan since high school ~ experimenting with my flute. I wasn't bad they told me. Actually played with a combo senior year.
ReplyDeletethis brings back fond memories, i played in a jazz group years ago, and i'm primarily (and always) a punk rock guitarist, but i would listen to monk play solo pieces like this and try to fill in some riffs, he literally taught me how to play jazz
ReplyDelete"the keys reflected cool as cubes in a mai tai
across his
impassive
Sogreto
shades."
yeah, that's monk for sure, very keen ending shay.
'' ... but plays .... flawlessly'' - he'd agree.
ReplyDeleteI think if you can play Ask Me Now (although I'm more fond of Round Midnight), you are qualified to be hipper than thou.
ReplyDelete