for a while, like 30 years, i've been obsessed with wolfgang amadeus mozart's regina coeli in C, K 276. sometimes, it's the only thing i'll play on my ipod for days, or even weeks and that's not even hyperbole. every time those soaring fucking notes hit my earballs, i feel as if God Himself is having a very special conversation with Me Myself. it really just makes me want to fall down on my knees on the nasty New York sidewalk i'm inevitably banging across and praise the bejeesus out of God. sometimes i think Mozart is God.
anyway, once, i was listening to Regina Coeli when i caught the 4 at 86th headed downtown. i jumped in and sat down across from a homeless black dude which i immediately regretted the moment i naturally respired (which is to say, right away, obviously) but since i didn't want to be a douche and move away, i stayed sittin tight. so there i am, taking this old guy in when he looks up at me with these big brown watery eyes and he's rubbing his knees in obvious pain and i'm starting to feel all sorry for him, and i swear to God, or Mozart, he looks me straight in the peepers and starts MOUTHING the words of the chorus in perfect unison with what's happening on my ipod, in my ears, in my head:
