Lucas Smiraldo's poem brought down the house at our Market Street Salute. I still sing it everyday. Thank you, Lucas.
1.
I thought I’d seen this form before
I tried it once and I wanted more
I swore the universe just ran right through ya’
The tiger claw and the denjima
From Chen Bu roots to Omaha
The lineage rent and law are coming to ya’…
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
2.
A stranger from the land of wheat
Crossed a sea to find her feet
And she deserved a seat and what’s it to ya?
We the student took the cause
Of health stock and many flaws
But most of us will pause at hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
3.
You’ve heard a reference to the moon
Of Chen Xiaowang arriving soon
But did you know the tune is not a secret?
To spread the word, obey the form
Adore the sun, and love the storm
And all the ways my core sings hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
4.
Market Street’s a fickle place
Of twice the rent and half the grace
A willow leaf of palm flew through the door
The wind, the tide, the lease, the floor
And rumors of another shore
And all the while a lunar hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
5.
One night on a quiet road
I plunged into a riot node
Of fireflies, crickets, toads, petunias.
The willow tree was feigning sleep
The woods were lit and dark and deep
And all the bellow praise was hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
6.
We thought we’d seen this form before
We tried it once and we wanted more
We swear the universe just ran right through ya’
We wave our hand to Market Street
The cause is just but the time is fleet
And ever does it wend to hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
7.
I thought I’d seen this form before
I tried it once and I wanted more
I swore the universe just ran right through ya’…
***
At the open of the closing
Embrace The Moon
July 22, 2018
Original lyrics by Lucas Smiraldo to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”