Kneeling With the Runt at the Wailing Wall

Is there wax covering my soul?

If so, I didn't know about it; but suddenly,

It is melting, melting, everywhere!

While everything I care about seems spilled

to the floor as it pours

Like rain from the inside...

Torrents of it!...


The vocals, like a

Chorus of angels sound

Then swell...

Into some sort of divine crescendo

Emotions break and bend against my will

And I cannot stop them


But WHY would I want to?

Why would I want to when this is

All I have ever wanted?

To give everything that's ever haunted

Me permission to surface

Without hurting anybody

All in a three minute song...


How do you DO that??


If I could ask Mr. Todd Rundgren, I would

"Just what have you done to me?"

Your song "Wailing Wall"

Has me falling to pieces again

And again

...Over kneeling down for sadness's sake

And crying just as though her heart would break

(That is, the old maid...)


Then a slight change in lyrics pulls the heart

strings so tight!

It goes from her heart, to their heart,

right? (Who are they)?

HOW does he DO THAT??


Does he mean Jerusalem? THE wall in Israel?

This is the vision I see when I hear the title

But believe what you like

If I could I would ask Mr. Todd Rundgren...

Because whatever the longing unfulfilled, has

Me still listening to his ballad...

About a grand, old maid across the sea

What has she to do with it?

I don't know...


Maybe he's comparing those who care with

Those who think it's all a show:


"You know that I don't listen

And you know that I don't care

But everyday, you'll find me there"

He says.

..."kneeling down for sadness's sake;

Crying just as though (his) heart will break"...


And so, the flower of my heart has burst open

To pour all that is within its' walls and chambers,

Crevices and cracks

And it's not all sad...not just, not only

There is sunshine: Things of wonder...beauty

A G-d given curiosity

That makes me glad to be alive


The way words sound in the mouth

Caterpillars, become butterflies

Glittering stars against a velvet sky, hidden

Under tons of smog...

But they're there! Do you not see them?

*Like the stars of David from Ester's madalion

Spinning in the shadows

Reflected in the flames?

Perhaps this song will help!

And hours later, the song still plays

(even if only in my head).

All of this

Acknowledging the knife-- the one stuck in my soul,

While removing it as well

HOW do you DO that in a three minute song??

If I could ask him, I would; because, if that's

"not caring," somebody goofed! I'm just sayin'!


So Mr. Rundgren...

I gather you're the Runt; is that right?

(As your album is titled?)

Odd question, I know...but you see, you have

Melted WHATEVER

was stifling my soul...in one three minute song!

Believe me, this is no small feat...

With just a piano??

How in the WORLD did you DO that?

I don't know, but right now,

I could kneel while your song plays

And never get up

--CES (C)2016.



Todd Rundgren "Wailing Wall"
Runt: The Ballad of Tood Rundgren
AIMusic (1971).

*"One Night With the King" 20th Century Fox (2006).