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the centre street marathon
it's just after christmas, and hundreds have gathered.
gary and jason have arrived for the marathon.
It's quite famous, this race - folks come from afar -
new roads to run and new mountains to climb.
the tenors glance about - sizing each other up -
jazz cats meeting in the night.
the basses keep their hands in their pockets -
wondering whether they really should have had dessert.
the sopranos smile at their kind -
and alertly settle - like songbirds into a tree.
the altos sedately sit - ready as always -
knowing themselves the true foundation.
familiar routine now, this coming together -
familiar faces, familiar things, familiar spaces.
so we greet and we mingle - we take up our music.
we fill the sanctuary - we prepare for the race.
the champions arrive - without ado, they run.
we falter in surprise - they stop in pity.
there there, sing well, like a granddaughter's kiss -
and do it for the passerby - perfect from the start.
and we do. and his hands weave our voices into praise.
and the piano strings tremble on the edge of their strength.
and new-old words are born again in new-old tunes.
and we are one. and we are grateful for the gift of singing.
1 race run. then another - then the next.
each around the mountain runs - higher and higher.
4 times around and the dizzying view is seen.
what running! what singing!
at the centre street marathon. |
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jan 2004 elias