Django, Gitáno Gitaristo (Django, Gypsy Guitarist)

Gold cherry

By Turlough

Sun, 17 Aug 2025
  • 643 reads
14 comments
 

 

Django, Gitáno Gitaristo 

 

As flashing eyes encircle

Pyres that crackle at dusk

An elixir of archaic song

Eases persecution’s pain

A balm for bedevilled souls

His caresses tease a guitar’s neck

Sparks fly from strings

Romanced and courted

With la touche manouche

Of his two able fingers

And his dukkerin dook

 

Nomadic riffs

Echoes of Rajasthan

Oh the Roma, Mama

They travelled with the Roma

Horses, camels, caravans

A living metronome

For wanderers’ lust

From canvas, roadside pitched

To those pearly palace portals

Spied from the edges of forests

Of banishment

From the edge of humanity

By Amritsar, Belgrade, Paris

From Jasenovac

From Auschwitz

 

Brown triangles stitched

On ragged coats

On ragged folks

A privileged few

In their settlement camp

Eat chickens he stole

From the Iron Crosses

Who love his music

But despise his race

And blood

 

When bombing ceased

His Hot Club pounded

Jammed and jazzed

Smoke cleared

Nuages paid for tickets

To walk to the beach

To smell the dew

To strum with Stéphane

In a Bohemian world beyond

 

As nostalgic ears encircle

Gramophones that crackle at dusk

From Jaipur City

To Galway City

Everyone wants to be

Gitáno for one day

Or to sit with Django

At the railway station

In Fontainebleau

 

Image:

My own drawing of Django Reinhardt, thrown together and bodged about in the hope that one day I might get a job as a designer of album covers or novelty tea cosies.

 

And now let’s listen to a little Djangology

 

 

Certificate 12
Poem
Poetry in Commotion
Biography

Comments

Submitted by Mark Say on

I've listened to Django Reinhardt over the years and think this really captures the spirit of his music.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

That's really good to hear Mark. Thank you.

I've liked his music for a long time and in recent years I've delved into a lot of Gypsy music which has turned out to be a rich seem of gold for me. We rescued a cat from some wasteland in Sofia earlier this week and it seemed only right to call him Django.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Love your poem of this gifted musician. He was obviously born to play in his own unique way. 

That last stanza summed up the bohemian life he must have led, so beautifully. A taste of a style I love.

Thank you for sharing Turlough.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

He's a man I've always admired, for his music and his story, albeit a very sad one.

Many thanks to you Jenny for reading this and commenting.

Turlough

Submitted by rjnewlyn on

This is our Facebook/Meta and Twitter/X Pick of the Day! Please share/re-post if you like it.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you very much indeed. The good news has made my day.

Turlough

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Congratulations Turlough. Jazz isn't my cup of tea so I've not intentionally heard anything by this musician - I made a note to google him before commenting and have returned (educated) to find you've been given a place in the spotlight - well deserved golden cherries, and I really like the illustration. He sounds fascinating!

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Did you ever watch The Fast Show with John Thomson's 'Jazz Club' parody sketches? They were hilarious in that they were such a close likeness of the reality. 

There are only small snippets of jazz that I like, and Django is a lot different to the rest, so it wasn't difficult for him to become my favourite. That Romanian / Hungarian corner of the genre contains some really good stuff. Perfect background music for a hot summer night. And oh how I love a cimbalom!

The link I put at the end of the poem is a three minute history of Django with one of his most famous pieces of music being played. I put that there because I was sure that most people wouldn't know much about him.

And we rescued another cat on Tuesday which we have called Django.

As for my portrait of the man, I was wondering if we have a sister site called ABCpictures. Coral would often egg me on to do some art and one school teacher in Ireland in 1970 encouraged me but the rest of the world seems to be less sympathetic. So I very much appreciated your words of kindness.

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I read your poem first, then went to the link. Had not realised that kind of music was Jazz, although I have heard it before, always thought it was related to Tango. How amazing he could do that with only two fingers on one of his hands! And that his music is still enjoyed now, and sounds so alive and he passed so young. I wonder what he and Le Corbusier talked about.
Your poem is fabulous, the feeling of excitement and freedom and bravery shines through. i am glad I read it first, and thank you for telling me about him. And Django the cat, I hope he is doing well

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I'm glad you enjoyed it Di. People are often put off by the word jazz, as I used to be myself.

Django the gypsy cat, like Django the gypsy guitarist, has bits missing but he'll be alright now that we have him in our retreat.

Thank you very much for reading and for your comment. 

Turlough

Submitted by marandina on

"Nomadic riffs

Echoes of Rajasthan

Oh the Roma, Mama

They travelled with the Roma

Horses, camels, caravans

A living metronome..."

What a vivid portrayal. I loved the section above, in particular.

A poem that stands reading over and over. There's depth, empathy and story-telling all wrapped up in poetry.

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned your drawing (if they have, I missed it). It's genuinely wonderful. What a talented man you are, T.

[Oh....and what a start for Leeds t'other day. The whole of the Prem is shuddering at the prospect of visiting Elland Road]

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Your kind words are hugely appreciated Paul. Since moving out east and living close to Roma people I think some of their spirit has rubbed off on me, especially their music.

I was once told that I'd make a better ballet dancer than an artist, so what you said about the drawing really made me smile.

As for Leeds United, well mid-table mediocrity is my dream this season.

Turlough

Submitted by celticman on

I'd heard of Django because of a quiz answer, Jim Can Of Lager whispered. He was a fan. Both are departed. I've never heard Django's music or from Jim Can Of Lager since. Both are dead. Which makes keeping in touch more difficult. Good name for a cat. Great drawing. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I'll call my next cat Jim Can of Lager in his memory.

Thanks CM

Turlough