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Jasmine Lyrics by Yusef Komunyakaa

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I sit beside two women, kitty-corner
To the stage, as Elvin's sticks blur
The club into a blue fantasia
I thought my body had forgotten the Deep
South, how I'd cross the street
If a woman like these two walked
Towards me, as if a cat traversed
My path beneath the evening star
Which one is wearing jasmine?
If my grandmothers saw me now
They'd say, Boy, the devil never sleeps
My mind is lost among November
Cotton flowers, a soft rain on my face
As Richard Davis plucks the fat notes
Of chance on his upright
Leaning into the future
The blonde, the brunette—
Which one is scented with jasmine?
I can hear Duke in the right hand
& Basie in the left
As the young piano player
Nudges us into the past
The trumpet's almost kissed
By enough pain. Give him a few more years
A few more ghosts to embrace—Clifford's
Shadow on the edge of the stage
The sign says, No Talking
Elvin's guardian angel lingers
At the top of the stairs
Counting each drop of sweat
Paid in tribute. The blonde
Has her eyes closed, & the brunette
Is looking at me. Our bodies
Sway to each riff, the jasmine
Rising from a valley somewhere
In Egypt, a white moon
Opening countless false mouths
Of laughter. The midnight
Gatherers are boys & girls
With the headlights of trucks
Aimed at their backs, because
Their small hands refuse to wound
The knowing scent hidden in each bloom
Credits
Yusef Komunyakaa

Yusef Komunyakaa

About “Jasmine” by Yusef Komunyakaa

Read the complete lyrics to "Jasmine" by Yusef Komunyakaa. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rap.

"Jasmine" is performed by Yusef Komunyakaa. This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Jasmine", explore more songs by Yusef Komunyakaa using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Jasmine" is credited to Yusef Komunyakaa. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

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