Sotto Voce
metal strikes against the stand
sharp and quick beneath his hand
he lifts his arms and bows his chest
the room falls silent at his behest
lean in the light, all strength and ease
sunlight caught above his sleeves
the lines of his face arrest my eyes
green burns inward, blue outside
sweat beads bright along his brow
he knows how to please a crowd
two curls escape, he smooths them back
I hold my breath, curtains fall back
to have some blessed excuse to stay
to watch him work the hours away
to watch from behind as his shoulders shift
then up comes the wrist, a subtle lift
he does not call the current forth
but gently guides it on its course
his smallest gesture draws it through
master wielder, transposing view
silver skaters cross the lake
cutting shapes his fingers make
figure eights beneath their feet
and for a moment I’m complete
wild roses climb the garden gate
bloom beyond their given fate
a child stands beneath their vine
and reads aloud a borrowed line
another tilt, a field of green
white chalk cuts through the in-between
two lovers play their weaker game
and steal a day to fan the flame
beyond measure, color pours
from window glass and kitchen drawers
records spin without a hand
each note exactly where he planned
but watch the way the baton moves
he knows what he will not excuse
dare disrupt the fragile sound
one wrong move, you’re ushered out
no second chance, the end you meet
you’ll be removed from your seat
his jaw goes still, his eyes go cold
the master’s rule has taken hold
yet, a wounded creature limps onstage
he lowers both his hands in rage
at whatever made the poor thing bleed
then breaks the score to meet its need
he’ll carry what he shouldn’t bear
give away the better chair
bear the ache but not the shame
then walk back out and start again
I watch him orchestrate the room
make the winter flowers bloom
proud and humble, fierce and mild
judgment and mercy reconciled
with all the claims upon his time
I cannot fathom some is mine
and still, he never says a word
the greatest man I’ve ever heard