Happy Birthday John Coltrane

Poem by Justin Desmangles

John Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967)

He looks past and sees the future,
the great arc of being, a panorama of sound.

He closes fingers over wounds,
traces the scar beneath the Atlantic.

He brings changes, changing
hate to love. Suffering into wisdom

Caresses cares to be.

He cries the joy of exalted fire breathing,
burns time into eternity.

He steps, far moving beyond moving.
Dances a silent music, pulsing. Moves again.

Access to the axis. Circles circles center sound.
Eccentric beam, no barrier.

Some sun to come, this son who came.

John Coltrane!