THE TEACHER
Expectations, hopes, why.
Because.
You have come for something.
She learned from Bream,
Williams, even Segovia.
She does not act famous
no great lady noblesse oblige
instead excuses herself before you start,
sprays her plants, talks to them
she does not play the guitar for you
you don't dare ask
demonstrations are not in the fee
they are not even extras
they are irrelevant
it's not about her but you
a gift--
the hour is wholly yours.
Age horrifies
she is as old as you
but has a hundred concert posters
lining her studio walls
herself and people she's taught
you are the novice
trying to find out how to hold your hands
to learn how playing the classical guitar
is an unnatural act
But you don't come back
Can't
overreacher
Is this a surprise?
Is any new heartbreak more
than cause for a yawn?
Education is for the comfortable
Frederick of Prussia could afford
Joachim Quantz to teach him flute
But you--your children are too old to sell
they are of age and can object
But: you learned how to hold your hands
on the guitar.
They are curved in supplication.
KTW/7-16-05
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