Choir
From cream coloured sopranos to dark molasses bass,
apple green altos to tenors of champagne,
all dressed in tones of ordered piano keys,
all alert for the choral rendering,
they make their music through body and mind,
in position and posture, eyes on the page,
attention to leader, breath on the vowel,
endeavour shared in feeling and phrase.
Coloured harmonies stand monolithic,
melodies weave in layered threads,
solo soars above vocalisation,
text and texture take command.
Rows of faces lose definition,
ears, eyes, hearts full to brimming,
we remember now as the evening ends
the things we heard and saw in that singing.