Ode to Professor Palmer

I put on your record

when I cook steak

so I can use less butter

and pretend to be healthy.

For dessert,

I make crème brûlée

but replace the caramel on top

with your bebop lines.

I like how you sound

like the way you speak -

like there is always

a hint of excitement

behind the calmest voice.

I bet you look in the mirror

first thing in the morning

just to remind yourself

how good you look.

I bet you eat your eggs

over-easy for breakfast,

but still season it with

a pinch of humility.

I bet you kiss your wife and kid goodbye

when you leave for work,

and you keep them even happier

than you keep your plants.

I bet if you didn’t play the trumpet,

you would also do well

as a cardiac surgeon,

with nanometer precision,

millisecond decisions,

miles and miles of patience,

decades of dedication,

and all the knowledge on

how to reach people’s hearts

with no exception.

You have Denzel Washington’s swag

without any of the violence.

You’d definitely win some Oscars

had you pivoted into acting,

and you still wouldn’t

slap a man at the ceremony.

You’re like the Obama type of wit

if he chose music over politics,

did prettier things than his words,

dropped the academia jargon,

but still managed to inspire lives.

And yes,

I will vote for you

if you actually run for president,

even if I’m not American.

I am also still

trying to find out

how you haven’t seemed

to have aged

in ages.