On Rare Occasions

On rare occasions

the power was given me

to send waves of emotion

through the world.

These were impersonal events,

over which I had no control.

I climbed on the outdoor stage

as the sun was going down

behind the Tower of Toledo

and the people did not let me go

until the middle of the night.

All of us,

the musicians, the audience,

were dissolved in gratitude.

There was nothing but

the starry darkness,

the smell of fresh cut hay,

and a hand of wind caressing

every single forehead.

I don't even remember the music.

A wide unison whispering arose

which I didn't understand.

When I left the stage

I asked the promoter

what they were saying.

He said they were chanting:

to-re-ro, to-re-ro

A young woman drove me back to the hotel,

a flower of the race.

All the windows were rolled down.

It was a ride free from error.

I could not feel the road

or the pull of destination.

We didn't speak

and there was no question of her

entering the lobby,

or climbing to my room.

Only recently

I remembered that drive of long ago,

and since then,

I need to be weightless

But I never am.