Stardust

 
 It takes you to another place.
 That trumpet singing, 
 on and off pace.
  
 It takes you to another world.
 That rhythm section 
 sends you off for
  
 a meeting with the stars—
 a place where sorrows sing
 from way off, far.
  
 Yet, you feel closer than ever.
 Sorrow and joy mixing
 in that scaled fever
  
 Where worries seem to disappear.
 That rhythm! Ah, yes!
 Can you hear?!
  
 doom tick doom tick 
 doom tick doom tick
 doom tick doom tick 
 doom tick doom tick
  
 St. Louis whistles his melody.
 He sends you cascading 
 into the balladry 
  
 where the dust of a thousand lives
 dance in the solace 
 of a starry night,
  
 Where love is lost and had
 on a wooden floor.
 Tap with the band.
  
 Sway, swing that jazzing twist
 like a smoky haze—
 the grey, Harlem mist.
  
 doom tick doom tick 
 doom tick doom tick
 doom tick doom tick 
 doom tick doom tick
  
 Do you feel that beat?
 It’s bouncing off the street.
 It’s reeling in the heat
 of passioned memories.
  
 doom tick doom tick 
 doom tick doom tick
  
 Do you hear that sound?
 It’s trumping all around.
 It’s thumping on the ground
 with deep, booming bounds.
  
 doom tick doom tick 
 doom tick doom tick
 doom tick doom tick 
 doom tick doom tick
  
 Feel that smooth jazz tap at
 your homesick heart,
 drawing you back
  
 into arms you thought long past 
 into a lover’s past.
 No! Here at last
  
 you can waltz in and lean again,
 back into the longing arms 
 of love’s refrain.