How to Borrow Generously

Speaking of Respighi,

After playing Ancient

Airs and Dances, a voice

From live-streamed radio

Observes, Ottorino

Borrowed generously.

Not necessarily

Oxymoronic, that.

There’s a way to borrow

That casts a glimmer back

Over the long ago

Neglected, forgotten,

The contemporary

Unknown. There are two rules,

And neither one easy—

First, indicate somehow

The source material

Glows beyond this setting

While also managing,

Rule two, to do something

Transformative with it.

If you can honor it

And add something to it,

Yes. You may borrow it.