p:

in an eerie chamber I heave

the mighty grand piano accumulates the grime

torture in solitary confinement

long timid fingers extend

a mellow sound cries out

individual strings pluck

hammers strike furiously

a stack of flimsy paper accumulates

shining black under fluorescent lighting

knuckles outstretch toward pearl white

three powerful golden buttons sit below

resonant tunes imbue walls in the square room

souls stare intensely as I gaze out

my friends record, archiving memories

ample regal red chairs fill up

doors shut signaling pitch black retreat

mp:

a pair of wrinkled hands berate

my heart pounds faster

anxiously awaiting a call to stage

sticky sweat seeps profusely

imagination hurts

an intricate dance of missteps,

fingers turn solid

a frozen grip embraces fear

doubt unfurls

fire prickles my face

so now keys still

focus wiped away

blank space swarms

forte:

the performance awaits

legs straighten tamed claps begin

delicate fingers cross, luck on my side

amidst chaos, the fear brews

no mistakes equivalent to no monster

lurking in a dark corner

appears at the most inopportune moment

only fire intimidates such a creature

a terrible monster prevails

jumbles of marks burned

luscious vanilla paper erased

resemble an amateur on ice

the firebird emerges, a savior at last

retreat to ground zero moonlight glows

illuminating my mistakes in slivers of silver

pressure rages on

the aftermath:

misery of silence trails

stinging sensations linger through

my brittle barrier collapses defeated in battle

one path to continue on

the crease of paper flips

a voice shrills divertimento

harmony of sounds disperse

bright rage enthralls the hushed space

eighty eight keys remain

mistakes bound but

alluring notes persist to flutter

I conclude the act

scarred hands now smooth

released from enclosure

heavy shoulders now light

a beating heart now steady

myself free to roam

doors lock shut

a silent closure

calm once again

grand dust accumulates

the piano’s tale concludes here

echoing resilience evermore