Words And Music Poem by Les Derbyshire

In the sun-warmed plaça
Outside the small café
Bright coloured tables
Show off their colours
Like flowers in a summer garden
While noisy chattering voices
Make word-music in the air.
An old man in a black beret,
A walnut-faced woman,
A young mother and child.
Their words bounce to and fro
Like notes from a jazz band.
Now one soloist takes centre stage
Develops the theme,
Improvises and passes on the melody;
Drummer and alto sax
Toss the tune between them
While guitarist nods the beat
And waits his turn.
The morning slips by,
I sip my coffee
Enjoying the warm sun on my back
And the sounds wash over me.
My mind hears the music
But not the words.

(© Les Derbyshire April 2009)