The Dumb Keyboard

He saw it in one of those chintzy antique shops,
recalled that it was made for travelling musicians
that wanted to work out scores while not being overheard.

It was old and all wood. When he tapped the keys
they clacked, but each key seemed to clack
in a slightly different tone,
as if the former pianist’s thoughts and intentions
had somehow imprinted
a musical counterpart into the inarticulate wood.

When he got it home
he took it up and placed it on a table,
stretched stiff fingers and played.
He played like he had never played before!
This was real, not an air-guitar thing.

Chopin and Mozart melodies flowed through his hands
as he sped through deft keyboard exercises,
annotating quarter and eighth notes,
executing perfect tonality and phrase.

Tomorrow he intends to jazz-duet with Oscar Peterson.
'Man, it feels good to be dumb', he thought.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

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Watt Avatar
November 16, 2021 at 1:23 PM
Eric, this is a lovely little tale of musician and instrument meeting serendipitously and making beautiful music together. Loved all the music references, especially O.P. who has long been my favorite jazz pianist, and was my gateway to jazz music back in 1978. I like the concept of the former owner leaving his musical fingerprints on the instrument. Enjoyed this very much, thanks for sharing!
Ashford Avatar
January 16, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Hi John it's very good to receive some feedback on this. Music is important to me the way poetry is, Both arts meet in joy. Thank you.
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