Howlin’ Wolf opened a door
in his chest
and something enormous
said hi.

A bear informed
that rent
was due Tuesday.

Microphone should have been
wearing protective clothing.

Years later
Captain Beefheart
heard the door.

He didn’t knock.

Dragged desert sand,
and unidentified animals
behind him.

His voice sounded
like Howlin’ Wolf’s voice
left overnight in the Mojave.

Then Tom Waits

carrying a piano
that had fallen down the stairs.

He too heard the ancient instruction.

Make it not beautiful, but necessary.

Three different throats.

Some inherit melody.

Some phrasing.

These inherited permission

to let the human voice
stop behaving
like a human voice.

It has to sound
like nobody else
could possibly
have survived making it.