"The Night the Piano Fell Apart", A Poem by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
"Play on. Though broken."
Image by DavidGallie@pixabay, added by Penofgold
listening to Trio Duende play Allegro con Brio, from Piano Trio 1 in B Major
Once, on a rainy night, I sat in the home
of a family I did not know and listened
to a trio playing Brahms. Though
it is only hours later, I unwrap
the memory as if it is tied with silk ribbons
and wrapped in gold tissue—something
precious as a time-smoothed stone
on the banks of a slender river. Unlike
a museum piece, this memory wants
to be opened, to be held, to be touched,
to be cradled by bare hands. Wants
my finger prints all over it—
the memory of how beauty swells in us
and then breaks us, breaks us
the way the piano itself broke apart tonight—
the pedal rods clattering to the ground
mid-movement. Beauty bids us play on
as the pianist did tonight. Play on.
Though broken. Though we know
the work eventually ends in a minor key.
Play on, as if we trust the line of beauty
will not be broken. No matter how intense
it gets. Even if the world explodes.
—Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
WORDWOMAN
Oh, Rosemerry’s poetry touches places I have no name for—or don’t want to name but to experience. Thanks, Rosemerry, for giving permission to post this poem. I believe this poem can encourage writers and other artists to persevere with their art even when a plan or piece falls apart, as Rosemerry says, “no matter how intense it gets.” And, as citizens of the world, it can remind us to keep playing beautiful music when justice goes awry in the world.
Here are links to find more of Rosemerry’s honest, soulful writing and wisdom: A Hundred Falling Veils, wordwoman.com, The Art of Changing Metaphors: TEDX Rosemerry Trommer
Inspired,
C.S. Gold
penofgold.substack.com
Love the poem Claudia... and the thoughts you shared with us.
Oh, Claudia...this poem is so beautiful. I'm going to save it to read again.