E. T. I.

“Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence,” by Blue Oyster Cult.

Song I was infatuated with, oh, about 30 years ago, way, way back when I was just figgering out how to play that there electric guitar, and, coincidentally, seven years before the X-Files …

I hear the music, daylight disc

Three men in black said, “Don’t report this”

“Ascension,” and that’s all they said

Sickness now, the hour’s dread

All praise

He’s found the awful truth

Balthazar

He’s found the saucer news

Wait! There’s more!

I’m in fairy rings and tower beds

“Don’t report this,” three men said

Books by the blameless and by the dead

King in yellow, queen in red

All praise

He’s found the awful truth

Balthazar

He’s found the saucer news

Dead leaves always give up motion

I no longer feel emotion

Where prophecy fails, the falling notion

“Don’t report this, agents of fortune”

All praise

He’s found the awful truth

Balthazar

He’s found the saucer news