Who's Sorry Now

Whenever the piano was ready
to bare its teeth
and Pa was elsewhere
Ma would clear the keys
of leaves and weeds
and bang out a few tunes.
Often Crazy and Who’s Sorry Now?
Occasionally Dream A Little Dream.

We’d leave our tasks
and gather round her,
respectfully ignoring wrong notes
and eccentric improvisations.
It was always an intense experience.
When it was over
we’d proffer polite applause.

Ma would remain at the piano
a while longer,
hunched over the keys,
weeping, but silently
of course.


Acknowledgement: Philsart.org.uk