I met you,
sweet prince,
on Christmas night
in the Choir of Hard Knocks.

You fascinated me,
reminded me
of another Simon
much like you.
A long-haired loner
who loitered
for years
by the river
of my childhood.
Who strummed his guitar
and talked to himself
and frightened the tourists
with their fat wallets.

I watched you sing
your Halleluja,
standing tall
on the Town Hall stage.
The words in your hand
shook uncontrollably,
the tremor in you voice,
you just kept at bay,
But the light in your eyes
flooded the room:

'And even though it all went wrong,
I'll shout before the Lord of Song
with nothing on my tongue but Halleluja.
Halleluja, Hallelujah,
Halleluja, Hallelujah.'

Alison Cassidy

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/simon-s-hallelujah/