You cannot see the upper reaches of Everest <br />from the base camp, where you acclimatize <br />with attitude and finger exercises. <br /> <br />In starting your embrace of the peak, <br />You must move with an almost monotonous precision, <br />perfecting each phrase, bend, hammer, and lift-off, <br />owning each measure before moving <br />across hours to Camp Two, <br />then Camp Three, <br />each section with its hurdles and mazes, <br />your mind bobbing like a pigeon’s head <br />searching for the path <br /> <br />After Camp Four <br />and across the Hillary Step <br />with the Kid’s summit in sight <br />your fingers fluid and rippling, <br />repeating impossible runs <br />until they can be sold as easy, <br />you’re at once focused and disjointed <br />as if watching yourself play in a film <br />while you’re playing in the film, <br />or maybe your brain <br />is oxygen-deprived <br />knowing you are so close, <br />a single ascending line to go <br /> <br />And when you finally summit <br />you pass through a golden turnstile <br />and look down from rare air <br />feeling a bond with the masters <br />and all you can do to underscore the feat <br />is tenderly put the guitar down <br />and lean your head way back on the couch <br />until you are looking straight up <br /> <br /> <br />Note: Rolling Stone magazine called Larry Carlton’s “Kid Charlemagne” solo (from Steely Dan’s 'Royal Scam' album) “one of the three greatest rock guitar solos ever.”<br /><br />Michael Philips<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bagging-kid-charlemagne/
