Rondo in F

The operator sits down
a piano becomes a time machine
she presses the keys
and a message
from the eighteenth century
enters the room

although buried in an unmarked grave
“Wolfie” as he was affectionately called
etched out his thoughts
into the wall of time

sitting here, in this room
listening to that message sent
over two hundred years ago
I write these words on electric paper
a message folded and stuffed
into a crevice in that same wall

Percussion

She is the Percussion

tick tock

click clack

jingle jangle

Come to rattle yer cage

Ha Ha no one is safe

Kakoosh kakoosh

swish swish

peasoup peasoup peasoup

Come to rattle yer cage

The Apron

I asked Mr. Google
if he knew her
if he remembered her
he shrugged
I’m sorry he said
maybe if she had
done something important
or she was the mother of
someone important
then I think there would
be a line around here somewhere

turning away I wanted to say
I remember her
the smell of soap and cooking
imbedded deep in her apron
as I grabbed on
to steady my feet

Mother and Son

I'm  sorry

Its OK

I was so young

I know

How can you ever forgive me

Maybe I never will

Its OK

I'm sorry

I know

The Stories We Tell

A group of refugees with
tired road-worn feet
gather under a shading oak tree
and after resting for a while
started exchange their precious
      stories of home
good soil, sweet water, old friends
the perfect proportion of
sunny days and gentle rain
and after taking time to
complain about their situation
closed their eyes
remembering days and places
that never existed