Mozart's Last Stand By Lee Cassanell

I never died on that Viennese day I crawled out of the pit, shook the lime from my hair Said a prayer for the souls of whose bodies lay bare In the blood and the mud of their pauperish graves I would not pray again For no God would allow The ridiculous pain We endure and dish out So I kissed him goodbye Slipped a tongue in his mouth Re-adjusted my wig Then set sail for the South I played tunes for the crew as they hoisted the sails In the night we'd drink rum and tell stories of girls They were kings amongst men soaked with purpose and brine With no love for land that we'd left far behind By the time we hit shore I was bearded and hard All my rings and my wig had been gambled on cards As I stepped from the deck I heard cheers from the lads And the Captain exclaimed "Here's to Mozart, Avast!"

With my feet in the sand I lit up a cigar When I heard on the breeze a few chords of guitar As I followed the sound I passed pineapple trees Then I scented smoke of the cannabis leaf I climbed over the rocks and my heart skipped a beat As a man with dreadlocks said "You made it then, chief" He shook me by the hand said "Hey Mozart, I'm Bob, Put your lips on this spliff and let's go meet the mob". We walked down through a valley of silver and gold By the time the sun set I was pleasantly stoned "Nearly there now" said Bob as I thought about Gaia My eyes caught the sparks of a flickering fire Around it there sat an assortment of folks Passing joints to the right and what's left of the coke I sat down with group who were sociably clannish "Tenga una línea Mozart" said a lady in Spanish I took up her offer as Bob introduced "This is Nina and Jimi and Marlon and Bruce. Over there we've got Ava and Elvis and John Have a drink and relax there's a few more to come"

As the time floated by I met heroes and giants Film actors and proctors of music and science When the band settled down to a bawdy old song Well I felt more at peace then I'd felt in so long "Do you have a piano?" I asked with a slur. "But of course," said Audrey "there is one over there." I moved over to touch her and tinkle her keys Bash a few bars of Bach or a verse of Greensleeves With the moon shining bright I played blues and baroque Got a laugh from the back during Crocodile Rock "Can I join you?" said Frank "on this beautiful night?" I said "Sure ole blue eyes, if you do Mack the Knife". Oh we drank and we danced and we lived without prayer I found love with a lass and I grew out my hair I'm not sure where I am but I know this is were Every soul will convene and abandon their cares So before my pen rests I ask this of you all.... Do not live with the fear of the waves or the squalls... Though the ride of your life will be dangerous and drawn... Don't forget there is light at the end of the storm.

Copyright ©2007  Lee Cassanell

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