by John Shirley
Lights up on speaker, straddling a wooden chair and crushing a freshly smoked cigarette, if possible.
Ba da domp -
Sleek and gritty,
Like a glamour
Girl who's been around the block,
Knows how to make her way
With men betrayed -
Sha ba
De ba da
Be ba
Da
Street musician sings songs
Acapella,
Smooth staccato -
Fe le
De da
Shrill and lilting,
Soulful pain ebbs into
Low tintinabulations,
Elite syncopations,
High freefall scat -
La doh da
De da
Warm and mellow,
Like a first cigarette
That calms the blood,
Makes my heart
Pound like
Rhythmic exploration -
She bop
She bop
She ba
De ba
De ba
Be bop
She bop
She bop
Backdoor barroom -
Fingers snapping,
Toes tapping,
Hands clapping,
Drums rumbling,
Soul sweating
Like cold bottles on
A summer day -
Sha na
Ne na
De da
Be da ba
Warm like smoky candles -
Wax ecstatic,
Burn nostalgic -
Like wine mulled over time,
Sweet and careful like
A slow, strong kiss -
Sha la na na
Sha la la na
Sha la na na
Na na
Sha la la na
Lights down very slowly.
Whisper.
Whisper.
Silence.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Silence.
Whisper.
Whisper.
Silence.
Silence.
"Composition"
IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE
DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED
WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
"Composition" debuted March 15, 2003, performed by John Shirley.