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I watched every Sunday in awe
Every Sunday morning I saw her hit the piano keys
And sing to the Lord
So effortlessly
Resigned in my young thoughts that
Sister Ellis
Was just born that way
Throughout her whole life
Destined to stay saved and sanctified
When her life was done
Coast to heaven on that a celestial ride
Her voice
Was warm butter across grandma’s fresh baked bun
She was the one
Who made me feel less afraid of the devil and hell
Such a sweet, sweet spirit
No one asked
So she could never tell things to anyone that they ought to know
Each week she gave
A sweet Christian musical show
Not sure when or where I was at this particular time and place
My head buried in my transistor radio
I didn’t see her face from behind
And then she sat next to me on the picnic bench
Embarrassed
Didn’t know what to do
She simply said
“I like the Delfonics too..”
I felt my jaw fall towards the picnic sand
I could not understand
That Sister Ellis
The most saved sister I knew
Knew and loved every soul music artist too
And then she explained to me
Because my lips would not work
That she once loved to do the Watusi
The James Brown and the jerk
She said it was ok to like my soul music
But never to make them my gods
She used to travel on the broad highway
But the straight and narrow she now trods
Her face looked down at me so warm and kind
But too late for me
She was already blowing my mind
My thoughts were a jumbled strain
She used to play the piano for Miles and Coltrane
A regular at the Blue Note
Clinked glasses with Ella and Lady Day
The cats in Harlem knew her by name
She would often sit in for a few sets and play
If the jazz cats saw her in the crowd
I went from being confused
To being quite proud
To this day I remember that talk
I can still see her smiling face
Just the two of us talking music
On the bench at that long forgotten place
God is always first
Primary and main
But sometimes when the moment is right
Sister Ellis says it’s ok to tap your foot to Miles and Coltrane
