Satie’s symphony somehow melding peace
and melancholy first flowed to me through
Blood, Sweat & Tears’ ’60s album release,
variations of two movements like blues
hummed by archangels suddenly rising,
mantras of modal harmony, bookends
balancing jazz-rock tracks, such surprising
contrast rushing my body from frenzied
craving to dance in speeding traffic down
to desire for floating through rippleless
rivers of holy water. My thorned crown
of hangover bleeding me, I felt blessed
still, redeemed like the nailed thief as I lay
in off-campus bed, no choice but to pray.
Roger Armbrust
September 17, 2008
