The Poe Underground Highlights

Warwick poet and musician D.K. Mckenzie presents excerpts from his spoken word and music podcast, The Poe Underground, in a Warwick Radio exclusive.

In this episode, hear easily-consumed, original music and the poem September Midnight by Sara Teasdale and a suite of poems called Noir Night by D.K. Mckenzie.

September Midnight

Lyric night of the lingering Indian Summer,

Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing,

Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects,

Ceaseless, insistent.

The grasshopper’s horn, and far-off, high in the maples,

The wheel of a locust leisurely grinding the silence

Under a moon waning and worn, broken,

Tired with summer.

Let me remember you, voices of little insects,

Weeds in the moonlight, fields that are tangled with asters,

Let me remember, soon will the winter be on us,

Snow-hushed and heavy.

Over my soul murmur your mute benediction,

While I gaze, O fields that rest after harvest,

As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to,

Lest they forget them.

Noir Night

Drenched sidewalks

Neon lights blaze the night

and then

Jazz

Takes over the shadows

Dim candles burn over

On that loose night

While that smooth rain drops in

Uninvited and unrestrained

Mark the cars

Mark the walls

With those liquid clouds

Now

A band of fire trucks

Races away towards the womb of the boulevard

As that lonesome jazz plays

As that tenor sax does play

This is the type of music that must take place in heaven

When wet streets reign and street lamps illuminate the desperate puddles below

The bruised man

With his sad horn

Blasts and Wails

Until the walls of night

Vanish and the final hour of night

Reaches its maximum limit

Welcome to the African night

Where jazz rules and drizzles

Little nibbles of hurt, joy, and class

On your soul

All over your aching heart

Let the jazz infuse you

Let the warm jazz move in and through you

Let the jazz compel you

To ponder the enveloping shadows

Visit The Poe Underground ⁠website⁠.

Tune in to The Poe Underground ⁠podcast⁠.