Often I Would Say (Orleans LXXI '91)

Often I would say,
"Here, listen to this. This is an incredible song."
And they would agree to listen, they loved music

The song would begin itself, learning to walk
In its first notes, knowing it would run later

It was rare (almost never in fact) that the song
Would run without intervention

They would say,

"That's great. (music playing in back) Did I
tell you about my..."

"Cool. (music) What do you want to do tonigh...?"

"That's pretty good. (music) My favorite song is..."

I would push my lips upward and keep my teeth
From their neck as they rendered the musical climax
Impotent
A masterpiece half-listened to
The back of my neck would face them as I
Turned the song off in stride, in crescendo
And made a face that water would have
Trickled out of onto peasants upturned faces
Centuries ago when music was all that
We had to call our own