Poetry---November 18, 1992

THE PIANO PLAYER


Fingers move
Synchronously
Never missing a beat.
Ebony and ivory
Pressed in
Perfect harmony.
Melodic music
Sounding sweet.
Quick and nimble,
Hands glide
Across the keyboard.
Error;
Not a single one.
Contrary motion...
Part of the score.
Find it deep within
The soul of
The Piano Player.
Bringing wonderous music
To the admirer's ears.
Emotions
Run through the notes;
Becoming real hard
To prevent shedding tears.
One minor error
Ruins the whole piece.
Rough on the admirer;
Even tougher on
The Piano Player.
Dreams shattered...
His best performance
Not good enough.
The admirer walks away
Fairly unimpressed.
Tears stream
Down his cheeks.
Fingers touch ivory
As if just learning to play.
Slow and Shy
As his dreams
Are thrown away.
The Piano Player
Playing notes
With the tears in his eyes.
Nobody
Will stand to listen.
He might as well
Just die.