Piano

Two side-by-side on the piano stool.
The wide hall spreads hazy, honeyed light
Smells of age, of musky wood polish.
Dust motes drifting lazy, haphazard
Burn silver in a shaft of sun.

The pupil's cold fingers caress the red velvet
The bright carved studs of wood
Quick heart keeping time with the metronome.
"Keep your wrist low," he murmurs,
And adjusts her as though afraid
she may break in his hands.

Yellowed pages rustle in a sudden sweet breeze,
Her golden hair dancing amongst the black notes.
Grandfather clock chimes awakening
Chimes life, chimes love from dark corners.
He's calm, but inside he trembles,
Unthinkables tumbled in his snowglobe soul.

Soft fingertips seek out a timid chord C,
Air shifts as she reaches for octaves.
He revels in the safe scent of her warm skin
Until
A note slips. Jarring clash.
Their eyes meet; unspoken crescendo of feeling
Overflows. Oh, love me fortissimo!
A bird trills arpeggios amongst the pink blossom.

The checkerboard keys are untouched and still,
Musicians on the soft Persian silk supine
Completing each other completely ad. lib,
Ivory and ebony intertwined.

And all the while, imperioso,
Her mama sits like a fine-bred lady
Stitches untruths in the parlour,
sips weak coffee from unstained white porcelain.

She looks at her watch; the hour is up.
Skirts swishing, she floats to the study,
Sees the two musicians sat snug side-by-side
Performing prim French minuets.

"My dear," she says approvingly, "you have come along!"
Her daughter glances up at the teacher and smiles,
Nods a little, and says, "Yes."