by Matthew Mehan
And so I’ll play!
Pipe to the heavens I will,
And all of life’s pounding presence
Will beat an anthem to the Lord.
Look! Look how lovely they
Pluck their fair harps and fill
The air with taut and humming
Angel hair, strung for strains sent skyward!
Would that my wall-eyes were healed,
My ears unstopped, that I might
Well behold the music in my mind,
And stir the inner precious parts of me.
Meaning, O’ Meaningful Music!
Wash my sick heart in themes as light
As essence that gaily matter wields,
As burning, beautiful, and unkind,
As Michael’s flaming blade of three;
And hearing and knowing this sound,
Still will I play!
My pipe the heavens will fill
With a tiny treble tone,
Though nearly drowned, still my own,
And stilled never, and never alone!