MUSICAL Poem: An MRI Musical Experience, by Karl Kliparchuk

I had not expected to experience
the sounds from my MRI,
only to have the massive magnets
look deep within my spine.

With my earplugs in,
I laid down on the cool sterile table.
As the machine transported me
inside this brilliant white tube
the technician warned the MRI’s sound
would be like a jackhammer.
She was wrong.

I experienced various
musical genres–
first simple notes:
three thuds, two thuds, then one;
followed by roars and grrs.

I was reminded of the electronic sounds
from a MOOG synthesizer
when these experimental notes
first came out–
Wendy Carlos at the keyboard
“Switched on Bach”.

Then “Da Da Da”
the song by Trio
I’m sure you know it,
a musical worm in your ear
from when you were a teen.

To finally transform into
“I Wanna Be Sedated”
by the Ramones.
Joey would be pleased.
R.I.P.

My musical experience
suddenly came to an end.
Twenty-five minutes of entertainment
at my MRI:

Musical Remembrance Imaging.