listening while addressing the gas stove

to Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”––

Eugene Ormandy and his sumptuous Philadelphians;

the composition orchestrated by Maurice Ravel,

recorded over 3 days in 1971 which led me

to believe it was a live performance because

“live” recordings are often the cobbling of

2 or 3 performances, the end result being thought-of

as the best segments of the concerts making the whole "better".

maybe so, but it doesn't help my not being there.

so it's a studio recording which is ok with me.

the 9th track: “Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells”

struck me to the quick as I was beating eggs

for the morning’s french toast.

I might’ve felt bad about the circumstance, but

I cooked and ate the 4 slices anyway with a pat of butter

for each slice and a generous pour of 100% pure maple syrup,

and by the end of the performance, and with a full belly

I made a few calls to fend-off the money collectors, and then

began the rest of my day summoning the usual suspects along the march.