Lillian Allen

Lillian Allen grew up in Spanish Town, Jamaica where she attended Barracks (Spanish Town Primary) and later St Jago High School. She studied in New York City and in Canada where she resides…

“Billie Holiday”

– Read by Lillian Allen

“Billie Holiday”

Oh Billie you lived on your drawl
sounds swirling out of black
rainbows splintering
through deceptions of greys
to your omniscient blues

so full of self
of music
in-your-face proud

passions burst into words
pride aches heartbeat
and slow defiance
note by note
Bessie’s swing converges
Louis Armstong blowing language
breaking words apart
scat scat scattering soul
all over art     all over american culture

Billie’s lips giving shapes and hues to longings
meditation on deep spirit
on pain of being
elusive love
motions in the blood
fire and history from the bones
Billie’s voice a poet’s ease
and all that sass