The End of My Jazz Era

 
In high school 
I would be alone 

in our dark garage 
at night 

practicing
my saxophone

when I’d notice 
police sirens.

Neighbors didn’t 
want to hear 

my honking scales 
and arpeggios

any more than 
my family did.

It’s a miracle 
I stayed off 

drugs and out 
of jail somehow. 

Worst of all,
I might’ve been 

famous by now.