Choral

Once the pianist's shuffle-
click-swish-quick-scales-pedaling-
bench-drag-chord-doodling hushes,

singers file from both wings, face
front as one, ranked along three
risers, their poise smoothing coughs,

murmurs, shushing & laughter
till the baton sweeps up/drops
down, loosing joy, bass-rumbling

lament lifting everything,
cascade of open-throated
sorrow & solace roiling,

enrapt keening harmonized
in the middle of the air
as of a river sluicing

to spume & spray through a gorge.