suddenly there was Sly

Sly, the inclusive pied piper,
leading the dance line – black and white,
male and female, everyday people –
to a musical promised land

suddenly there was Sly

Sly, the alchemist of rhythm and sound
taking a bit this, a dab of that
and mixing it up into a brand new
potion of funkified joy

Sly, the egalitarian
sharing the spotlight with Freddie
and Rose, Larry and Greg
Jerry and Cynthia. hey!
everybody gets a turn
everybody is a star

suddenly there was Sly

the bottom bubbles and pops
an edgy guitar slices the time
the organ shoots skyward like a rocket
bring in the horns now and
everybody sing a simple song as
the whole Family explodes in
a musical orgy of celebration
better than dope, better than sex

suddenly there was Sly

12/28/17