A Poem Entitled Poem by William Pryor

why I am not a jazz pianist
inspired by Frank
O'Hara's Why I am not a Painter.
I'm a poet, at least
that's what I say to arts
administrators. I talk
about signposts not pointing
and poems not working
not about reaching the edge
of my playing technique;
I can hear politicians screw
language not entertainers
killing time.

to improvise
I must stride about, sit, be restless and play
with time to concentrate the energies
onto paper with my fingers on the keys
of my computer;
a jazz pianist
must stride about, blow, be restless and play
with time to concentrate the energies
into sound with his fingers on the keys
of his piano.

but really
I'm not a jazz pianist
because I don't read
music -
I just hear it.