A Night at Castle Bergh

It was a grey day in November

When a knight arrived from far

Behind him rose, as I remember,

Majestically the Morningstar.

The man rode on a noble stallion

Clad was he in armored gear

He must have fled for strange rebellion

For his face was filled with fear.

Reluctantly I did approach him

When he tumbled down his steed

I could hear a distant roaring

As he scrambled to his feet.

“Please my Baron, give me shelter”,

Said he, sinking to his knees,

“I escaped an evil smelter

Coming from the Persian seas”.

“It is no Dragon, dear von Saxen

Knocking on our castle door,

In this world there is no ax and

Sword to fight the Manticore!”.

While I listened to these rambles

Just about to lose my wits

Something broke right through the brambles

It was my horse, named Baron Fritz.

 “My dear knight, come ride beside me

To your ancient Castle Bergh,

Hurry up, you’ll have to guide me!

Yours von Saxen says: En Garde!”

So we rode as swift as lightning

Right across the barren lands

To the knight our speed was frightening

But I didn’t even tense.

As the sun sank quickly lower

City walls came into sight

Glowing fires in the tower

Were our beacons through the night.

At the twelfth beat of the church bells

Finally we did arrive

Rage was burning in my nerve cells

“Manticore, fear for your life!”

The trembling knight stood far behind me

As I opened up the gate

“Manticore, you little sweet pea

I will serve you on a plate!”

With a roar as loud as thunder

Sailing down on crimson wings

No, it really was no wonder

Manticore scared even kings!

 I drew my dagger made of Krupp steel

Ready to attack the beast

When I spotted a small gold seal

Stemming from the Middle East.

It had been stuck up in his left ear

For more than a century

It once was placed there by an Emir

Lacking any sympathy

Looking at this wretched creature

I now made a change of plan

The monster needed swift procedure

Of a brave and noble man

With a jump around the whole globe

I leapt up and grabbed his neck

Ripped the seal out of his earlobe

And then threw him on his back.

He looked upon me full of wonder

And a lot of gratitude

I tickled him, he growled like thunder

But with lovely attitude.

From the ancient castle towers

Wild applause and cheers rained down

The Countess threw some yellow flowers

And the Count gave me a crown.

“Oh dear Baron we adore you”

Shouted out the happy crowd

“This has been a real big breakthrough

You should be extremely proud.”

Then I bowed and gave a whistle

To my noble Baron Fritz

This time he came through the thistles

And we left there like a Blitz

Manticore flew right along us

All the way to Switzerland

He’s got now a brand new address

And is forever my right hand!

 

Clouds for Moritz

We will walk to that emerald hill my son

We will hike to the top of that hill

Then I’ll lift you up as high as I can

On the top of that magical hill

I will pass you a jar that you can fill

With those milky white clouds my son

With your tiny hands you’ll reach for the sky

And fill our sparkling jar

Then we’ll walk down that hill, back home

My son and watch those marvelous clouds

In the jar, on the hill, in the sky, my son

Yes, we’ll set them free in the lounge!

On the floor of the lounge we’ll lie hand in hand

We will stare at those glorious clouds

Till the sun goes down at the emerald hill

My son, then we’ll sleep deep and sound.

The Invisible Man

I try to hold the space

In which you were

Just yesterday

Your fingers on my lips

Have left me

Gasping for air even now

You’re gone

And all the world

Can see right through me:

Without you 

There’s a hole

Where I used to be.

Joshua

With the glow of the sunset 

in his eyes

he resembles most a dark lion

placed across oceans and time

onto this rugged coast.

His manes shaking in wild cartwheels

his roar of silk

his ears of gentle understanding.

Here is Joshua:

striding, playing, running

on an Asian Beach.

His smile is broad and white.

Gerard Hates Jazz

Tear this cruel gypsy heart
out of my rib cage.
Rip that poisonous sax-serpent
from my trembling hands.

Let me sit here
next to this tiny bed
with a bloody hole in my chest
with rotting fingers.

Let me sit here

staring at the light
that shines through
the ear of my son.

Jazz Club ‘The Poppy’ Approaches a Black Hole

Daffy, the leader 

of the yellow brass section,

swings his stamen

to the rhythm of the wind.

Bees in pinstripes 

get a buzz out of

booze flowing from flowers

on the borders of the known universe.

The lark goes down in style

and sings the blues

while falling from the sky

into the throat of the black hole.

Ray

Cosmic sting straight to the heart

Struck!

X-Ray-X

If it would help

I’d pray Ray

I’d pray for the explosive nature

Of your nuclear kisses Ray

Wow, the magic mushrooms

Of your bright eruptions

Ripping up horizons

Shredding clouds

Evaporating rain

Rain-Ray-Rain

I bow for you Ray

For your beauty Ray

Bow-Ray-Bow

Rainbow Ray, golden Ray,

Your colours 

Shine right through me Ray.

You hit me.

You struck me

With your cosmic sting Ray.

Dazzling!

You’re beautiful

Happiness springs from the

Jet black wells of your eyes

While sun rays dance

In joyous twirls around

The swirling darkness of your hair

You’re beautiful

Your gracious hands

Propel the words that

Jump and hop full of excitement

From your deep red lips

You’re beautiful

You juggle with the stars

You skip across oceans

You kiss the clouds

You tiptoe over moon and rainbow

And oh,

You hold my ruby heart

Firmly in your hands

You’re beautiful

Spring Horn

I open the balcony doors;

The April wind gallops in and

Prances in my living room.

Larger than light!

Pink nostrils opened wide,

Shivering, sweaty and wild.

It tramples my sofa,

My chairs, my TV and even

Glares at my saxophone!

I grab my brass friend and

Run down the stairs

Chased by the noble steed.

Outside! Outside!

Blow your horn Cornielje:

Spring is here!

December in Tangiers

Warm cold light dark

the flickering winter sun

plays hide-and-seek

with the skies of Tangiers:

along the beach strolls the boulevard 

in an ever changing shadow dress.

Over the bay hang

some heavy clouds:

camels drink upside down

from the rainbow and 

spit on innocent passersby.

A man in a red kaftan 

magically pops up a yellow umbrella

adding even more colour to this day.

A Poem for Hisashi

Hisashi is short

but in no way is he small

his smile beams

like a laser

across the floor

his sax resembles

a silver dragon

flying from his mouth:

roaring and whispering

smoking and burning.

Hisashi is big

and always beautiful.

Cool

A blue train thunders

at breakneck speed right through

the wall of the jazzclub.

Mirrors splinter,

Jackson Pollock replicas

fly around in shreds.

The drunk at the bar

pisses his pants

and farts a wet fart.

Hookers scream, corks pop,

a pimp pukes for fear

and cuts some cocaïne.

What the fuck is going on?

The pianist falls of his stool

and wanks all over Anita’s butt.

Sodom and Gomorrah!

The end is near!

Just the sax man plays on....cool.