The Lady that Played Piano

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Tue, 16 Feb 2016
  • 1708 reads
6 comments
 
A potted palm sits, stalwart, atop her piano; an ancient upright – 
unquestionably seen better days...taking me back in time 
to some erstwhile ‘sepia age’; she, and the more than dated 
White Cliffs Hotel, on the sea-front at Dover; me, him, and kids
channel hopping on route to a petit sojourn en France.
Each year we went, making bets as to whether or not the lady
that played piano had ‘popped her clogs’ yet...Irreverent, 
I know, but we meant no harm...just a bit of holiday magic
family fun.
 
Fingers, bent and arthritic...stumbled a touch...stuttered, then 
lovingly stroked the keys, as they trembled like a bird’s wing;
hesitant to land on a quavering branch lest it should snap.
Her pizzazz had got up and gone, but on the other hand
her sostenuto – wistful...like wind whispering through
the pines, was to almost die for, and the tune fair ached 
with  a longing to be true to itself.  Yet those scattered 
remnants of a melody, she’d half remembered, half forgot – 
more telling than whatever it was foolish enough
to think it was.
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Romance
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

so much more to playing music than technical correctness, portions played with feeling can communicate beautifully. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Indeed, Rhiannon, indeed.  Many thanks for sharing your more than valued thoughts.

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

In Nottingham there used to be a street busker, a guy. He played the xylophone. He reminded me of a spider monkey. This raised memories of him somehow. Some soft language here that conveys not only a moment but sounds of nostalgia, 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

What a beautiful memory to share with us, Vera,  Thank yousmiley

And you are dead right about that nostalgia.

Tina

 

Submitted by loquaciousicity on

The waning of life as time goes on...

Poignant!!

Terry

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Terry.  How right you are about time.

Many thanks.

Tina