She was dancing. Moving tidal hands out and back. Her neck swayed like a windy willow branch; sideways, over and around, she conquered all the air. Barefoot on October sidewalks. A royal scarf Isadora Duncan would have loved. Paisley red orange blue skirt. A bandana with beads tipped releasing Christmas noise. She smiled at everyone, … More HER SPACE
My first breath of day lingers with dreams, fresh in my eyes. My fingers stretch, rudely awakened; morning has arrived. Early breezes sweep onto my windows. A train whistles. Breaking into quiet. Passengers prepare for the city. The aroma of coffee steams the air. My covers. Shields against darkness. Protectors from dreams stealing … More MY ANCHOR
Night chords drip a slow pace. Porches fill with moving voices. The ice in drinks mix with perfume and sweat. The bass man spills the passion while his hands create a sound blessing. He has a garden of jazz to release. Colors in the crowd move forward, bright with face, soft in soul. He provides … More INSPIRATION
He knew the around of the block. His city in a square. He recognizes sidewalk cracks, stains from blood and stores still offering candy for a dime. He claims the lights on his corner turn green with his snap, even beggars know him by name when shipments are in town. Some friends are memories … More BACKSTREET SHADOWS
Abandoned newspapers jump into flight, cartwheeling over the parking lot, flattened on a fence. Its abstract art of yesterday’s news; the death of a soldier, a circled apartment on East 86th and fifth. A trumpet player joins the wind, flattening out the notes, falling into rhythm, welcoming the noise. It’s a night avoiding … More COUNTING SHEEP
An acne faced moon with a flat obscure smile, dusted silver with infinity. Curtain clouds shadow the face, its image teasing earth followers with glimpses of a rock half cold, half hot. The far side of outer space is jealous of earths circling daughter, the faithfulness, a never ending bond. Pull on … More CIRCLING DAUGHTER
The tides we mark. Levels gained, uprooting the changes from what once was. Shoot for the stars. It’s the high tide of holding the prize; a long way up and the fall is loud. A sliver of light is enough sun for me while working till sweat pours like the rain, its what … More FASTER
Broken glass, flattened fences, subways sing the language of city blues, not counting bruises or blocks with empty parking lots that mourn the loss, not knowing how to cry. Factories out the country, signs say keep out as men without gloves and collars up spit on the properties that once supplied their families well. … More ABANDONED SOULS
River drive. Radio talk. Dashboard lights, yellow signs, curves up ahead. Falling rocks, hidden drives. It was Saturday night. The clock says one. Been driving to clear the space in my head. Free my feet into go. Nothing to do but drive. No telephone poles. No lights. Houses dark with sleep. A few stray … More RED LIGHT
He was a sax man, raising the heat on the here and down, firing up stoves, cooking with jazz, pushing it with a lifting of hands, creating great sounds from reaching as the wall clock crosses over to tomorrow jumping his ride colliding with the sun, splitting the shade to shadows and jive until night … More WHERE DREAMS MELT
Roger Singer 