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Open Poetry #47
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Piano Bar
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Piano Bar |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana 
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smoke-filled little corner bar dropped in to get out of the rain no where else to go on the road again back in tha sixties the old man slouched on the piano stool seemingly bored as he lethargically murdered Mack the Knife only one woman sat at the piano his wife I later found out I sat beside her ordered a beer to nurse my pockets were not empty but close sat through two more songs bought another beer the man sounded awful and off-key woman nudged my leg with hers thinking she was coming on I nudged back could do with a place for the night she smiled a private smile leaned over and said his dog died today he had him thirteen years now I understood I can't bring him out of it the woman softly spoke to me about the man and his dog taking me back to my childhood a tow-headed child and his dog in spite of myself tears flooded my eyes betraying my rough-cut façade as the man continued crucifying his songs and the woman whispering in my ear something made me put a dollar in the piano man's jar "Please sing Send in the Clowns." the old man stopped the song he was playing the woman sucked in an irregular breath he smiled his fingers began to tenderly caress the keyboard soon his voice the one which sang off-key a deep, mellow voice began to sing the song magic filled the air it touched everyone in the place soon all the stools were occupied around the piano those who didn't have a stool stood behind the ones that did by the time he finished with Send in the Clowns somebody dropped money into the jar requested another song we were there until past closing time the old man sang for the folks their requests but every so often his fingers found the notes to Send in the Clowns he'd give me a look a smile his woman clasped my hand said, Oh, thank you when I slipped out the door no one noticed once outside I broke down in tears sobbed like a child and to this day I don't understand why ~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~ |
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| © Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Well, you have me in tears too, for the man, his wife, you, the crowd at the bar who made him feel wanted, but mostly for his dog. Lovely poem - very sensitive. Owl |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Hello, Owl. Thank you for your kind thoughts. It was quite a night. ~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~ |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
this is so tender. Not what i had expected when i started to read. Thanks for the sentiments. latearrival |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thank you, latearrival, sometimes you can't tell a book by its cover, or in this case poem. I appreciate your read and comments. ~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~ |
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Spiros Zafiris Senior Member
since 2002-10-20
Posts 982Canada |
.bravo Jerry; a delight to read; to momentarily float this poetic story throughout ones pondering..>>spiros ----------- --------------- |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Good day, Spiros, thank you for the nice compliment. ~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~ |
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Word Weaver Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437California, USA |
WOW Jerry. My eyes couldn't leave from beginning to end. The saddness grips you like a vice. Any reader can tell this is based on a true life happening. It wasn't the dollar that brought the piano player out of his sadness, it was your kind gesture. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Oh, for sure this happened almost exactly as I wrote about it, Word Weaver. As I age (darn it) I remember things I've locked inside my thoughts all these years. Some of them are not so good, but every so often I find a jewel such as this night, the piano player and his wife. Happened in Thousand Oaks. ~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~ |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
I could hear the music, could smell the smoke, and generally found myself there...nice...enjoyed |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Hi steavenr, good to see you and thank you. ~ Look hard behind you and you'll be able to maneuver around the pitfalls ahead of you. ~ |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
What a great memory to put to verse, Jerry. Amazing how good thought can change a song, the singer and the audience just like that. Loved it! |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thanks, Martie. I remember a few nights, not all as happy as this one was. ~ Look hard behind you and you'll be able to maneuver around the pitfalls ahead of you. ~ |
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