“Requiem” by Eliza Gilkeyson,

arranged for choir

by Craig Hella Johnson,

sung by The Chorale in Vienna

She had come to the church to worship God,

to hear a touring choir sing classics  with

some spirituals–she thought the choir was good.

The young liturgical dancer was lithe,

quite serious as she embodied grief

and bafflement at death from tsunami,

earthquake, and flood.

The choir prayed for relief,

for understanding from Mother Mary.

The worshiper, offended by the dance,

looked at the floor, her eyes narrow and hard,

her jaw was clenched, her lips were white and thin.

In choir and congregation there were tears

in sympathy with grieving mother, child…

To turn away from beauty is a sin.

– Steve Shoemaker, on tour, Vienna, Austria, June 12, 2012