The Piano Lesson

like a 
little buddha
the big fat
deaf
siamese
sat purring 
on the baby 
grand lid
while Ms. Simms
plunk, plink
plunked
on the keys

the room spun with
floating
cat fur
and warm sunshine
all around
lay ancient siamese
purring atop
the cat mawd
furniture
cat collection
the occupation of
a spinster
her face
the deep lines
sectioning her features
exaggerating her expression
behind her
on the mantle
a picture of
her youth
she was
very beautiful then
and I thought
how many students
have sat 
on this bench
before me
trying desperately
to get it right
trying just
to get it over with
slowly suffocating 
on cat hair
as Ms. Simms
plunk, plink
plunked


©1989- d.A. Sebasstian

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