Visitation (Song for an Elegant Angel)

A midnight apparition
You glowed and then you were gone
So, I took a sip from the memory
And stellar in your absence, you shone
The moon outside, it was golden
But the moon is only a con
Now Echo Park has you once again
But like a ghost, you remain in this song

And I love that you were a nerdy kid
On a school trip to foreign towns
Nervous of the airplane ride
And exchanging those dollars for pounds
Now here we are in the city of tarnished angels
Where bling is the bomb
In the land of the honeywagon
Wherein the fluffers all serve with aplomb

Your laughter, it was like money
Silver coins in a fountain in Spain
You told me that you liked to travel
Sao Paulo to Rio by train
When I asked you, "how was your embouchure?"
You said those muscles still work
And when I came back with an off-colour quip
You sidestepped so smartly, that smirk

So, oboists make the best kissers
Now on that I am sure you are right
As when I ventured, "trumpeters"
You protested, "No, they are too tight!"
Still, you told me that you liked that mad bastard, Miles
That his music cut through your distain
And when you mentioned your love of Bukowski
That's when I knew we were on the same plane

Released from the straps of those stripper shoes
Your inner little girl running free
Then pensive, lit by the light of a text
Who could the sender be?
Now, the stars in the sky, they are winking
But the stars are only hot gas
And maybe you were never here
Just a digital download, alas!

Alas! Alas! Alas! Alas!