“Desire for Melody” by Larry Colker

Larry Colker

DESIRE FOR MELODY

A black piano bench stands by itself
in the middle of a shopping mall.
People walking by wonder, “Where is the piano?”

It’s in a different state,
standing beside a rural highway,
tilting slightly into a ditch.
People stop their cars
but they do not get out—
where could they put a piano?
Then they drive away
embarrassed finally by the silence.

Meanwhile in the mall
a young girl sits down on the piano bench,
lifts her hands in the air in front of her
and waits.

from Rattle #9, Summer 1998

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