The Harmony of Changing Voices (from Birdhouses of the Heart)

Once upon a church midsummer
As the grass outside did slumber
In our midst a devout sister
Turned our choir into a twister
As our hummings were uprooted
By her strong voice un-recruited.

Sounding like a tire with slow leak
She crescendoed with a slight squeak
Till our leader asked the question:
"Who brought you into this session?"

In a voice high-pitched, elated
"You no make me mad" she stated
Like a drinker on a bender
There was no way to offend her.

(Life would be simpler, we agreed
If everybody held that creed.)