The Ghosts of Storyville [redux]

They’re here,
lurking at Liberty and First.
where the hiss
and slap of Buddy's strop
drifts out from the open door
of “N. Joseph’s Shaving Parlour.”
and the barber’s pole still squeaks.

”Buddy Bolden’s Blues”
that Morton wrote before
he blew town
spices the air
still not making much sense.

You might find Bunk Johnson
with Bechet and Pops.
Satchmo' smiling his toothy grin
wiping it off again,
his hanky stark
against his big, black face;
he and Batch never were on
friendly terms.

So many souls hang out here
waiting for a blow
lining up in ghostly queues.
Kid Ory telling his history
in Creole,
Bechet treats it gentle
always understated
like any ghost should be.