"A Thousand Gorgeous Chords"
Delirious timpanis
who rust and swell,
Grace me with a thousand
gorgeous chords.
Resist the folly of
slender black and white keys
or long-necked fretted strings
That threaten to violate the
integrity of any melody.
Rather,
accompany every emotion
like a beautiful love,
Recalling a once mad theme
with sweet, sweet roses
that crescendo into a
nocturne
of bitter sky.
Instead, always,
aim your breath towards those
delirious timpanis
who rust and swell,
then heave and sigh,
And grace me with these thousand
gorgeous chords.
Michael Smolens with Jerusha Simon
February, 2017
