THE PIANO

   For Ann
   In Memoriam

They are taking away the piano.
It was hers, not mine.
She made it sing.
I cannot.

Mozart, Beethoven, of course.
We went to see "The Sting."
And she said I want to play Scott Joplin.
And did.

It has stood here in the living room,
mute as a boulder and as heavy.
Could it have spoken
it would have begged me to send it
somewhere, anywhere, so it could
sing again, which is why today
they are taking away the piano.