Piano

Sitting, watching, staring

At the piano in the corner

Shining like a lake at dawn

Keys glinting under artificial light

I yearn to play

To let my fingers dance

Up and down the keyboard

I cannot resist temptation

And now I am there

My fingers brushing the polished ivory

Lines and notes reaching out

Through my eyes, my body, my brain

Tingling as they leap through my fingertips

Into the keys, into the air

The music swirls around me

Wrapping me up in unseen arms

Safe and warm and blind

To life continuing around me,

As it does

The room is gone;

The damp-covered walls,

The plastic chairs,

The throbbing florescent lights,

Swept away by this sweet cacophony

By the perfect notes

Flowing like water into my parched ears

The music kisses me softly

And sings me to sleep

Like a fragile infant

My hands continue on

Playing hard and loud and fast

Then softer, alternating

My heart beats

In perfect synchronization

And my mind soars

Away from the notes on the page

To join the sparkling tornado

I am dancing with the music

Sweet on my tongue

Warm to the touch

And beautiful,

Like a blood-red rose

In the cold light of a winter morning

A waltz of the senses

But every song must end

My fingers slow

The music fades

And last note lingers,

An echo,

A bittersweet memory

Of things once great

But lost from sight,

Silent