John Coltrane

Paul Scully

Coltrane’s saxophone glows rose gold on vinyl,

both etched with the patina of living.

I levitate when I listen to it;

snakes forsake their baskets at its sound.

The world expands in the patterned silences,

the notes are icons of truth.

I think I could give up drinking for music,

for a time anyway.

For a time anyway,

I think, I could give up drinking for music.

The notes are icons of truth,

the world expands in the patterned silences,

snakes forsake their baskets at its sound,

I levitate when I listen to it.

Both etched with the patina of living,

John Coltrane’s saxophone glows rose gold on vinyl.

PAUL SCULLY is a Sydney-based poet with four published collections, the latest being The Literary Detective and Other Crimes published by Bonfire Press in 2025. He holds a Doctor of Arts from Sydney University. His work has been commended and shortlisted in major Australian poetry prizes.