the kalimba

 side a:

1. Feel good

The first few notes

dance off the metal picks,

tuned by your gentle hands

and too-bright smile

the pitter patter of perfectly planned patterns

drowns out the static

(Happy)

2. Keeper

We found my song in the attic,

dusty,

dirty,

delightful.

Like the oak windchimes in the wind,

the sound of metal breathed warmth

to my cold hands.

Your tuning kept the static at bay.

(You promised you’d stay)

3. Hot air balloon

Always early on the beats

Always under summer’s heat

Don’t you grow tired?

Of waiting for me?

You’re a Tidal Wave

while I’m stuck in The Saltwater Room

4. Doremi

You said it’s as easy as doremi

but my kalimba had no ABC’s.

You said I’d paint symphonies,

but my ears could never see.

You said to take it lazy,

but you’re moving at 120 beats.

5. Home;run

“It’s just a year,”

(one year is a lifetime when you’re apart)

“I’ll be back before you know it,”

(unless you hit your homerun in the city)

“You’ll get it someday!”

(I’m on the ninth inning, second out)

“A break is all you need.”

(the static is getting louder

every fourth beat)

side b:

6. And there was no one left

I saw you last week, on the

radio.

I’m doing fine, really, I just

wish

You’d pick up a call

one day

(the metal picks feels cold now

or have my hands always been

this freezing?)

7. Pinwheel

I practiced

for three

whole

hours today.

Crash, burn, sharp, prick—

It’s horrible

but you said I could never stop

chasing after a dream

(you said it in an interview meant for thousands)

Beep. Beep. Beep.

8. C’mon

Beep. Beep.

I found three

Beep.

dead notes

Beep.

today.

Beep.

One got lost on the way home.

Beep.

One slept in the snow.

One lost its name

after the fall.

Beep.

(except there’s no climb for me.)

9. Peace sign

Only one note was in tune

to remind me of
everything

you said.

You missed another call,

but a not even a hero can play a symphony

with only one note.

(crrr-tang! It goes. This one—

10. Bullet

—is on a rooftop.)

Beep.

The first song you

taught me

felt happy.

(it was the bottle of pills)

Hey buddy,

(it was the fall)

would you

(it was the trigger)

play that song

Beep.

one

last

time?

[No heartbeat detected.]