Dizzy taught me a bass line
to fathom the design
how to float on the line
and in our boat we sang while the moon
made the ripples shine
first at sea with the line
I sang it better every time
ride with me Dizzy’s line
he dug, and his beret against the moon
darkened the design
deeper in the bass stave
the wind began to moan
deeper grooves in the waves
we blew until the big one rocked and rolled
and our jolly boat went down
when I got air the man was gone
I can swim but not for long
foul to fair, but the moon was down
never copped and never lost
is the echo of his song
above, Orion wide and far
below, a squid jets ink
above, a Lion spitting stars
and as I fade, a fin draws near
shuddering, I sink
but the back below, it buoys me
the dolphin is my friend
by the bass I think he knows me
straddling I ride
so fun on the fin again
run slowly, dolphin of the night
Copyright © 2006 Tom Ross, www.mijazi.com