A Miracle that I Could Continue Playing
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
The only time I ever felt the power
Of Bach was when I played “God’s Time is Best”
That first time in an early evening hour,
An evening Sabbath hour when heaven pressed
Conviction of his beauty through the strings
And woodwind harmonies. I raised my flute
And joined the violins. Then angel wings
Embraced unholy me. The Absolute
Uplifted me, among staved beings, by
The seraphim and Gabriel. A gold
More perfect than the streets of gold on high
Transmuted me and showed me Christ unscrolled.
My throat closed up. My stinging eyes flowed, thrilled
Transfiguration utterly distilled.
~ Phillip Whidden