can we agree that this will be
the perfect opening song
regardless of what song 
is selected

opening chords define
the appropriate level of joy
the seats empty
for an epiphany

when the lead singer leaves 
the center of the stage 
it produces mild concern 
as if the world has tipped

the bass player moves to fill the hole
the tone of said hole darkens
much as the density of the drums
darkens the stage

or as the fluid guitarists
straddling and snarly battle 
to light the far corners of the stadium
against the bogeymen we came to forget

can we agree that the world
will not be whole again until 
the lead singer resumes his place
at the center

and the tilt once corrected is forgotten
in the wash of the world restored 
by the next introduction or arpeggio
presaging the tension cycle again