TOTAL CIRCUMCISION

OF THE HEART

(for Taimoor Shahid)

“It’s after the end of the world; don’t you know that yet?” - SRA

once upon a time there were a lot of lions out in the cornfields

once upon a time there were a lot of lions out in the oilfields

yeah, i’m a hungry ghost.

once upon a time i was madly in love.

now i’m just a work of modern art.

what can i say? it’s a total circumcision of the heart.

hysterical mass of flesh and bone,

i sold my soul to be alone.

hysterical mass of flesh and bone,

i am the ocean foam.

yeah, surrender everything.

and hold the world to its word.

once upon a time i was madly in love.

now i’m just a work of modern art.

what can i say? it’s a total circumcision of the heart.

Hayya as-salah

“Calling planet earth. Earth! Earth!” - SRA

La ilaha illa Allah

[SAMPLES: “Calling Planet Earth” by Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Solar Arkestra (1993, Evidence Music); “It’s After the End of the World” by Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Research Arkestra (1970, MPA); Needlenose Ned (aka “Ned the Head,” aka Ned Ryerson); Sounds from the Voyager Gold Record; Azan/Adhan sung by Muadin Hafiz Mustafa Özcan; Klezmer clarinet by Emmanuel Yohan Lazzara.]