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