Glaser, Elton

English

University of Montana

CutBank Volume 1 Issue 19 CutBank 19 Article 24 Fall 1982 Elegy for Professor Longhair Elton Glaser Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cutbank  Part of the Creative Writing Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Glaser, Elton (1982) "Elegy for Professor Longhair," CutBank: Vol. 1 : Iss. 19 , Article 24. Available at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cutbank/vol1/iss19/24 This Poetry is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in CutBank by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. Elton GlaserELEGY FOR PROFESSOR LONGHAIROver the low lope of  the bass, the highhat’s chatter,I’ll always hear  that  uprightStut ter and sway— the Professor’s playingHis bareknuckle rhumba  boogie on Ram part  Street!Stand back now, it’s the crawfish love call,It’s the wild bell ringing for resurrection,It’s the ghost of  hambones in Congo Square,Voodoo  by Jesus out  of Jelly Roll!I’ll take my place in the second line,Do the zulu strutWhere the brothers sweat through the streets,Slow drag and blues— O the bot tomDone drop out  the big d rum and the ho rn ’sAll empty,  but the tourists stillStep off the train, some hifi squallingGet y o ’ ticket in yo ' hand . you  wanna go to New Orleans!I’ve come back now and you’ve gone.No gospel or gris-grisCould keep you here, however muchYou loved the jukejoints pouring outBourbon and a smoky beat, the palm treesLashing their green rhythm down Elysian Fields.These words are for the wide riverThat  spreads forever south,  and that  black boxYou rode like a raft into heaven.57

Elegy for Professor Longhair

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Elegy for Professor Longhair

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