Sophisticated Lady

Encountering Duke Ellington on the Road

Sophisticated Lady

Eliot Hotel

Across the street from Jazz Workshop

Duke Ellington in for the week

Front desk

Room number

Off elevator down hall

Commotion

Bags flying into the hall

Angry woman

All right for you Duke

Slipping by in a huff

Door of suite open

Spacious room empty

Entering gently softly calling

Duke, Duke, Duke

Grand presence emerged

Elegantly robed

Tied nylon stocking cap

Keeping the process neat

Seated on huge couch

Introductions

Some people can be so rude he said

Taking notes

What are you doing now

Writing

About

My favorite subject

What’s that

Watching me taking notes

That looks like enough

Now I have to put my head on some

Feathers