Erroll Garner Remembered
By Lu Angelieri

Your sound:

whispers or growls
soft whimsy to crescendo of heart
sliver of sliding rubato
handstirred with your fun-
ky yet resilient being
fed by your moving Black fingers.

Earl of lilt

you garnished the world
with your own Garner sound
 
un-funk-uh-funk-funk funk
this treble accent was yours.

You rest-

less-isms
elfin nods
jumpin' butt
accompanied with your nasal
 
ah-ih-ah-ih melody cues
 
replacing the printed note
you did not care to read.
 
Lord! had you been a verbatim player
would there have been deep-est MISTY
divined by a concerned you?
 
You lie still
restless
with flying sounds.