Everyone Is Music

I

You were the first of us to say, gainsay
the wind—
Kindness isn’t without cost
where money does not spend

[Labcoat Michael spoke, misspoke,
began to say that everyone is
music, in the end—

A tarot deck of liturgy,
control within confusion
A streaming, metered drone of union

We worship not by divination]

CC me and send

II

At your behest,
we dare not summon thee
You, the kingly three
And we, the ones ensummoned
You, the food, the host, the feast
And we, the guest, the priest
A menu full of roasted meats
the Levite chews, the nation eats

If everyone is melody,
my song betrays its oath of loyalty
my king, this thing that in my mouth lays—
it often fails to send you
tones of praise, for you deserve a thousand-thousand-thousandth
verse, beginning with the dawn,
encircling the Earth
I hope to you, my God, my tongue
no longer strays, hallelujah

When I am called upon the stage,
When I the aged scroll peruse
Today, the shield in place,
may I refuse the urge to mildly hum the tune
This song is new,
this song for you,
and I am music in your ears