From The Great Black North, published by Frontenac House in 2013. Teeanna Munro is a spoken word poet, storyteller, educator and learner. She lives in Montreal.
Oh Man!
I can still remember the very Night
when I first heard the Harlem Nocturnes
I can still hear the music
It was a Friday March 1963
I can remember the month
because I just moved in from Oklahoma
and the forecast was
COLD
colder than a lonely woman in heat
and man was I hungry so
I headed to a slick chicken joint
on the corner of union and main and
from three blocks away
I swear
three blocks away
my frozen ears were thawed by Vancouver’s own
Thelma Gibson
sweet to the ear singing
I got it bad and that ain’t no good
and you know she don’t lie
because in that moment
I had it bad but it sure felt good
forgetting my hunger pains
I went to where I could get some real satisfaction
343 East Hastings Street
The Harlem Nocturne
and that scene was Thick!
for three dollars
you were guaranteed a good time
no liquor
but everyone was still
lookin’ good ’n actin’ bad
just sassy and struttin’
that joint was jumpin’
soft lights
smoke filled air
heavy with fried chicken
you don’t even need to eat
for that smell was so thick
it made you full
footprints painted all over the ceilings
I remember thinking
this place must be hot
because these dancers
ain’t got no boundaries
The Band
Ernie King
Mike Taylor
Chuck Logan
that place was alive
floor dancers dressed to the nine
after all my years at Harlem
all I can say to you is
there was laughter
man there was always laughter
just thick and light
So in the words of the Great Ernie King
“Ladies and Gentlemen, that’s all y’all”