Unlocked: Poems for Critical Times (Series Two, Part Two)

Editors’ note to readers: The automated sound device that accompanies articles in the Daily Maverick is to assist readers who are blind or have reading difficulties. It is not designed for poetry. Where possible, we advise you to read the poems rather than listen.

Someone said all poetry aspires to music. Jazz in particular ignites ardour and argument in the hearts of many South African poets. I feature two such passionate avatars below. The late much loved poet-laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile (known to his friends as Willie) was deeply influenced by blues and jazz as well as by his friendship with musical giants such as Hugh Masekela. Poet Gus Ferguson wrote in his introduction to This way I salute you  that “by including jazz references Willie is following a jazz practice of quoting one tune while improvising on another.” Rustum Kozain has written tenderly about his father’s suppressed career as a double bass player, invokes jazz and musicians directly or indirectly in many poems, and below writes vehemently, deliriously, about Charles Mingus in Mingus Octopus.

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