The Indestructible Moment

by Bradley Mason Hamlin

The greatest song
ever recorded
was
“Summertime” by Louie Armstrong
and Ella Fitzgerald
was the song
playing when I made love to that
20-year-old fox
for the first time
all the better
and the greatest woman in the world
is the one you’re in love with
the best laughter
your children’s
most satisfying food
home cooked
of course
and the only film to remember
the pictures of your life
and here it is
right now
in the summer of your mouth on hers
this thing you do
the way you dance
while
other people load their pistols
blending your blood
and hers like red wine
warm like fresh baked bread
through the battles
the screaming crazy
war of getting to know each other
that much better
and there you are
here
as Louie lifts his horn
and gives you something
no one else can
a soundtrack
to the only part of the world
that is truly wonderful
the part of you
without a force field
the beat beating away the blues
with a trumpet
a smile
and
every time you hear it
it is
the wild unbeatable jazz
inside the flame
of day to day living
the details
the bills
the cold chills of murder
on the news
and in your backyard
but if you hate it
if you hate
if you let the bad stuff
get inside your gut
you won’t hear it
you won’t hear it when
the good stuff
strangles the neck
of Diablo
and you’ve to let him scream, baby
sometimes
let the beast out the cage
but not when your song is playing
you’ve got the Devil in a headlock
when you’re happy
when the right riff
meets the right moment
between you
and the eyes
that come from heart
beating toward you
this is the absence of oblivion
the indestructible moment
when all the bombs
east of New Orleans
drop on someone else
and you will hear the song you love
like God’s hands upon your shoulders.

One Response to “The Indestructible Moment”

Abigail George

March 16th, 2006 at 5:36 pm

I was really sad when I read this and then when I read the sadness didn’t completely disappear. I didn’t feel like crying. I never listen to Tom Jones but I wanted to listen to something that would distract me. Also today I realise why I write the way I do - intense. I also want a different love. It’s all I’ve ever wanted MY WHOLE LIFE - my mother to love and accept me - not reject me. I fall in love with words. You have written a beautiful piece of writing.