#lakebud

Lake Merritt is Bud Powell’s piano The sun tingles its waters Snuff-jawed pelicans descend tumbling over each other like Bud’s hands playing Tea for Two or Two for Tea Big Mac Containers, tortilla chip, Baby Ruth wrappers, bloated dead cats, milkshake cups, and automobile tires float on its surface Seeing Lake Merritt this way is like being unable to hear Bud Powell at Birdland Because people are talking Clinking glasses of whisky and shouting “Hey, waiter”