Cylindrical tube and a flared bell \u2013<\/p>\n
I have my eye on you and my ear too.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re propagating sound waves<\/p>\n
at the same time as you force your way<\/p>\n
into the mouth of some sad looking bearded guy<\/p>\n
with his back against the wall of an apartment building<\/p>\n
and a cap at his feet, home of a paltry half-dozen coins.<\/p>\n
He must be your trained monkey.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You need his air to wake up your reed<\/p>\n
and his fingers for the right pitch and tone \u2013<\/p>\n
and his shamelessness of course,<\/p>\n
for you\u2019re too sweet to beg,<\/p>\n
too melodic for charity \u2013<\/p>\n
but he has bad teeth, unruly hair,<\/p>\n
baggy pants with string for a belt<\/p>\n
and the parched look of someone<\/p>\n
who can really use the money.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You flaunt your pedigree \u2013<\/p>\n
Sidney Bechet, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw.<\/p>\n
Sure, they were human too<\/p>\n
but you regard them as almost your equal.<\/p>\n
Not this bum though.<\/p>\n
Without you, he\u2019d be sifting through trashcans.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I drop a dollar note into that cap.<\/p>\n
He nods a \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Your pride plays on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
John Grey Cylindrical tube and a flared bell \u2013 I have my eye on you and my ear too. You\u2019re propagating sound waves at the same time as you force your way into the mouth of some sad looking bearded guy with his back against the wall of an apartment building and a cap at … <\/p>\n