Rehearsal

Miniature dancers spiral
inside a glass dome as the music box
tones Chopin's Waltz Opus 64 No. 1
A girl winds and rewinds the key

moment by moment

Her lips blackberry stained
kiss an almost carmine cat
The grand piano unclosed
like a mouth ready to sing
the woman places her long fingers
on old ivory and ebony

over and over

Time after time
the woman daydreams
the girl     Tiny ballerinas whirl
a holy water of salvation
into memory's eddy

again and again

Her waltz dances on angel wings

Ryfkah 10/10/04