YOU WANT A NIGHT LIKE THIS

THE JOE BROOKS QUARTET IN THE BASEMENT

https://youtu.be/zbwX5ttG87U?si=_PVkCLTfs13Thj33

SUNDAY EVENING IN THE CHURCH BASEMENT

          --for the Joe Brooks Quartet

On the week they fly your wife over the mountains

for heart surgery and she’s back home in 72 hours

with a new Pacemaker, 

                              you’re gonna want a night like this.

Joe Brooks Quartet's playing in the church basement.

Taped on the basement window Upbeat Concert

is what we’re told. Psalm 104 in my head from worship

and Karen one week with her newly timed

heart. The guest pastor remembering Robin Island at 22.

She travels with the bishop now. The boat ride. 

Always a boat ride. Crossing water. Throwing

death overboard. Shaking her hand, saying,

Now we can add your names to others who stood

in this pulpit.. Alan Storey preached here.

South Africans open the heart of the world.

Shake the dust from your pant legs. Dust yourself off

and photograph the piano player when he comes 

to sit by Karen. It’s Bart Roderick.

This is jazz. You want a night like this.

On a clear day, you can see forever

and right now, everything’s clear. All the stars are out

and all the stars are guides. Sun rays shine 

on Maria’s face while she serves Communion 

and this is God’s justice. The Joe Brooks Quartet 

warms up in the basement. Joe Brooks, 

Bart Roderick, Austin Pledger, Don Kinney.

Times are different again. Joe Brooks in red-rimmed glasses.

Don Kinney’s the drummer, but the camera can’t reach him.

Stand-up listener, Austin Pledger on bass,

tuned into his elders. Those magnificent strings.

Bart knows all the kid songs from grade school.

Give him the green light and tell him to sing

Georgia. Georgia’s on a lot of our minds.

Count the votes as they were cast and not one more.

keep time with your toes, remember Ray Charles

at 16 in Seattle. Your toe is your ticket to freedom.

It’s date night and this is jazz.

This is Georgia. It’s Gershwin.

It is, Joe says, It is. It is Karen

back with a pacemaker. Only count 

the votes that have been cast. That’ll do us.

Capture the beat of Psalm 104.

That Pacemaker, Don Kinney, that Pacemaker.

It’s a drum stick. It’s atria, it’s ventricle.

It’s red blood on the back beat.

Who coverest thyself with a light as with a garment.

I reach out to Karen and put my arm around her.

I can touch her. Opening night 

and who can I turn to?

It’s date night. Here’s Karen breathing.

First night out back from hospital.

A pacemaker keeping time in our hearts.

The trees of the Lord are full of sap.

On a clear day song outshines every star--

summertime and the living is easy.

One of these mornings let me tell you about today.

Jim Bodeen

May 10-26, 2024