Sacred Bathing Song
by J.Alan Nelson


I sing the song of a wizard
as I bathe in the huge, chipped tub
lather rooster crest of hair
in the midst of waves
that roll into rich fountains
to spray a flood of wet light.
The wizard’s song holds you
and turns you to sound and word
that resonate in time and air.
You must stay as I bathe.
You preach on everything.
You regard life as tragedy
but you cannot deny
this song of surprise
and hygiene.
I will sing
until I’m clean.








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