a faltering little spray of notes.

Fantasia

The old grand piano-
no one here can play it
or one can, but not well.
She's very shy.

Once I returned early and heard inside
a faltering little spray of notes.
But that was meant for her own soul
like a secret between sisters.

I coughed a little outside the door.
She pretended to be dusting.
When she ran the rag hard
over the treble keys

they yelped in pain.

Leonard Nathan

From: Pocket Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

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