Legendary jazz musician, composer and poet Joe McPhee visited London earlier this month.

He played with Rodrigo Amado, Chris Corsano, Kent Kessler at Cafe Oto in Dalston.  A few days later, he gave a sell-out performance at the Tank music space in Lewisham – a unique venue currently struggling against destruction by developers.

Joe has kindly shared two poems which he wrote in response to the election of Trump.

Detail from ‘The tape is now the music’ by Richard Walker

DARK MATTERS

November 9th, 2016

THE SUN CAME UP ON A DIFFERENT

SIDE OF MY MIND THIS MORNING

not as it had the day before

or the day before that

or the days before that

since the beginning of my time

THE SUN CAME UP ON A DIFFERENT

SIDE OF MY MIND THIS MORNING

rising like a red  hot poker aimed straight at my ass

a poker forged in the heat of

pathological lies and deception

and bigotry and hate

and intolerance and greed

and unimaginable ignorance

raised to the highest as night fell

THE SUN CAME UP ON A DIFFERENT

SIDE OF MY MIND THIS MORNING

surely days will follow long nights of reflection

regret and recriminations

and perhaps a new sun

shall rise on yet a different side

side of my mind

in a renewed season of hope

but I don’t think so

 

PLASTIQUE

White

Is more than a color in America

It is a state of mind

In nature

White

Is all

Colors reflected

Black is all colors absorbed

In this unnatural environment

White

Is content to reflect

The supposed absorption of Black

Black is not content

To reflect

Or absorb

 

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