Rachmaninoff's vespered alleluias invoke
verities over baffled earphones transubstantiating cigaretted
censers on a glass-topped bar into holy urns of restless
prayer. Odors of earth, sweat, breath and sex raise a
choral rapture of confidence genuflecting before the
whisper of absolution at night's end.
Requiem votaries aflame in a vacant vestibule rouse the
smoke of souls to testify, testify, testify to tears
stinging the nostrils of so incensed a God - incendiary
ire self-consumed in anguish, weeping that washes the
stench of time from a wretched race suffering the fumes of
death in each day's hour.
Resonant voices ascend ever vigilant, ever vulgar,
finding no audience in the firmament above save
mercy deep-drawing from the bloodiest prayer fragile aroma,
mingling scents, expelling what offends, exhaling the
sublime, respiring grace out of time.
