Gracenotes from Paisley Abbey

Memory: Paisley Abbey. Neil was singing some Rabbie Burns in the apse because of the acoustics, and a startled steward popped his head out, and then, began to harmonize with Neil. The Abbey was filled with the strains of My Love is like a Red, Red Rose. Goosebumps on the heart. A moment locked in tine.

The steward took a shine to Neil, and we got a down-home back room tour of the bowels of the abbey. He showed us some finds from an archaeological dig lift from the old sewer: tweezers, gambling dice, chorale music—gracenotes scratched on a piece of slate roofing. Notes from the past.

added, rev. /4/2017