Pictures At An Exhibition

I heard Pictures at an Exhibition: 

no price was charged 

or admission ticket required

no stub 

or membership rules posted. 

i felt the moving mystery!

it gathered all the straining ears

along a horned path 

with vibrating strings 

playing the famous Mussorgsky song in four parts 

of ethereal lighter-than-air 

loudness 

and diminishing softly,

the tidal wave moodily sweeping water spray sound

around

& then a quick flair for the flamboyant:

the kettle drum and French horn; 

keys with flutes attached, 

and a sustained trombone blast and some elfish piccolos; 

a large section of bass, deeply humming in tune. 

incessant rock knock and pound surround,

The Kingdom

of finest woven lace 

weaving notes of orchestral tempest. 

and those brilliant escaping images, 

fleeing from practiced instruments,

kept moodily circling 

with fingers of humankind grandly being toyed about.