Sometimes, when no one else is home
After I check the rooms to make sure
That I'm home alone
I open all the windows to let the staleness out
And I turn off all the lights to let the sunshine in
And I sit down on the piano bench
And rock back and forth to hear the tired old skinny wooden legs
Creak and moan in the quiet house.
Then I set my short, clammy fingers on the
Cool ivory and ebony keys,
Paying extra attention and care to Middle C
With the chipped edge, as though the piano
When I was little and learning to play
Wanted to always remind me where Middle C is.
Then, with the windows open and the sunlight at ready position on the carpet
Her fingers clasping the hand and shoulder of the dust
The dust with his straight back and greased hair and chin in the air
And then I play
Hard
Loud
Soft
Tender
As ostentatiously and flamboyantly as the dancing sun and dust will stand for
As passionately and lustfully as the hard keys will allow me
And I play as long as there is
Breath in my body
Rhythm in my chest
Strength in my fingers
And no one home
But soon the door will open and someone will walk in
And then the keys will have to stop because
I am no longer home alone
And the sun and dust will have to go back to sitting quietly along the walls because
I am no longer home alone
And the windows will shut in the stale air and silent stare of stupid walls because
I am no longer home alone