—after the film on Thelonious Monk, Straight, No Chaser

In the recording studio, the band plays
well into Ugly Beauty before a voice
from inside the control room interrupts
the song and says, "Okay, let's do one."
Startled, and with angry disbelief,
Monk’s feeling can be summed up by,
"What the hell you think we're doing!"
He wants to hear the take again,
but it wasn’t recorded; still can’t believe it
as he paces across the room, chiding
the producer for not knowing better.
Then Thelonious resumes his professionalism
and begins again. He hasn’t lost the song.
He’s gained a new take, and is also unaware
that the documentary has restored the loss.

* First published in: Urban Spaghetti (Mansfield, OH: 2000; the Jazz Issue)