His voice soars
over heartsickness
over knots in the throat
over love possibilities
over love delight
lover love despair
to a ballad
sung in an American voice
interwoven and spliced
to French romantic poetry.
Even behind the dark glasses,
a melody to dreams
of love given and taken
makes the prayer of song
as St. Dominic reminded us
prayed twice, half straight
to the ear of God,
half straight return
to our own damaged souls.
