Betty Carter and Dennis Irwin on bass 1976 | Photo: Mark Weber
HER GIFT OF WORDS
The words from
Her mouth
Found wings in
Waiting air,
Tumbling with roll
Into the need
Of those listening.A twisting sound
Curved over
And smoothed
The faces
Intent
With believing,
As their arms
Reached for
Music’s gift.Lights paled
In the strength
She owned,
As she pressed
Out brightly
From where
She stood,
On the stage
Of her world.