Perdido Poem by Yaak Karsunke

one after the other hands over the jar
or the horn
shuts up the piano
leans his bass against the wall

dancers also leave the stage
Nuryev two days ago
Dizzy Gillespie died yesterday
one from aids the other from cancer as if
you could choose like in the old days
when you had the choice between
alcohol & heroin

ladies and gentlemen: this
was the massey hall quintet
1953 in may
the greatest bebop concert ever
with Charlie 'Bird' Parker
John Birks 'Dizzy' Gillespie
Bud Powell & Charles Mingus &

at the drums Max Roach
still alive now plays
the last chorus blues march
for drums only

Translated by Marc Falkenberg