I wrote this at the jazz open mic last night.

I see, I hear, I learn, I
bend myself in pretzel knots and
unfold my mind longhand

I traded the fire and brandy autumn leaves
for you and instead we squeeze every drop
of juice we can from this town with gusto and
verve.

I might die tomorrow as my hand cramps and
my heart races in time with the drums in the
gallery, but in this moment, I couldn’t be
happier.

I grew up with these sounds, asking myself if
silence was indeed the question, peering through
twelve bars and howling over blizzards
(January 21st, 2016 comes to mind)

I became louder than choirs,
louder than bombs, louder than
death itself

but with you, I learned to cherish the silence
cherish the vulnerable, unfiltered
drop my volume, drop my sword, my armor,
my fire
and here, in this town, with you in this gallery,
I see,
I hear,
I learn.

-Allēna 8/29/2025