Pianist 

(for Annie)

I imagine I'm not there,

But sitting by a radio,

Waiting as the audience -

All murmur and shuffle,

Impatient for the next-

Endlessly demurs.

While you, unobserved,

Mount an adjacent stair,

Settle finally on the stool,

And blithely begin

A different story,

And every eye, and every ear,

Is taken in by

This moment redefined,

That stops the prattle,

And unstops the mind -

You, unassuming 

In punkish attire,

Play into the keys, 

Innocent, unaware, 

Of the bright fire 

Blooming.