In yesterday’s poem “The Red and White Ball” was mentioned the gift of a piano to the poet, upon which was composed the music eventually performed at that Crocker Museum event.

This is the story of her acquisition of the instrument.

*****

Recorded Reading (4:10): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/35i08ul4tq5r89z7lt7s3/The-Magical-Piano.mp3?rlkey=z3bxxvlwa2xmsrjf736sjxr7v&dl=0

*****

The Magical Piano

In community college
I studied music theory
Rubbing shoulders, hand in glove,
With other po’ folk just like me

Under the instructive
And myster’ious hand
Which weilded a baton
Over its oompah band

No finer education
Might I hope to accrue
Than I received that classroom in
Unlikely — but it’s true

And not just in music, either,
But in all manner there may be
Of youthfully enthusiastic
And astonished inquiry

Which is pretty amazing,
Even well before
Considering he taught it all
In musical metaphor

Let’s just say I watched him work
A miracle or two,
This plain and unassuming
Man as you would ever view

Whatever else might happen have,
Come whatever may,
It was as a professional
Musician that I walked away

This teacher never taught, the more,
First year music theory ~
I took the course in four short months
Positioning myself to be

Sitting front and center
When that second year began
Eager to be presinct
To this amazing man

There was just one problem,
But one lack remained,
For benefit of his homey
Instruction to be gained ~

I had not managed priorly
Sufficient money hoard
To purchase for the exercises
Any kind of keyboard

Then came a ring upon my phone
One pleasant afternoon
Which brought to me that keyboard
Both excellent and soon

It was my psychic healer friend
Gaia was her name
And with that contact o’er the wires
Yet closer we became

“I have a question for you —
I would like to know
Whether you might have a place
To put a piano”

Recalling her about to move
Distant Sidona to
And funds from that piano’s sale
To go the trip unto

I asked her if she wished me
Her instrument to safely store
But she responded, “Actually,
There is something more

“You see, as by my kitchen sink
As usual I stand
I received a very powerful
Psychic command

“I thought to wait till later
When my husband will return,
His opinion on such
Radical departure learn

“But then it came to me again
So full of light, so strong,
I knew this gift so right
That it can do nobody wrong

“So I’m gifting my piano
To your future musical,
And may that future be
Of healing melody chalk full!”

Friendly hands the effort of
Its moving undertook
And serious the labor of
Each loving one it took

And then, the needs of that sweet
Little instrument to see,
Came a piano doctor
Into the family

Raised in a fine household
Abutting Oxford’s wall
He refused to take from us
Payment for his work at all

He said he so enjoyed
His time within our household be
So uplifted and healed as part
Of our artistic family

The tender care he took
Of that piano as time flew
Was but return for precious
Moments that he with us knew

Melodies composed that
State-of-art piano on
Later came to be performed
Great grand Steinways upon

But I was always happy
Back to my humble home to go
And place my fingers once again
On my magical piano

*****

This poet presently lives at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S, or choose to donate by personal check. It will take about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

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