Rhapsody

Heaven’s chill clouds hide blazing stellar light. Winter wet with fresh white flakes falls tonight. A morose man maunders at his baby grand, Keys awaiting the touch of bony hands. A sunlit melody from two souls’ springs With a gentle whisper and soft caress Given to the girl with the sunlit face And warm kisses in her heartfelt embrace. From a fine feather-soft andante touch Notes gently rise as fresh as morning mist Lifting slowly to start a languid day With willows leafing and robins stirring. A spritely turn becomes a lilting waltz Swirling with the girl with the sunlit face Softly sounding to a wistful beat of Brilliant butterflies bobbing in a breeze. A strong counterpointed arpeggio weave, Fluttering a fabric of fierce feelings, Teases out phrases lit with grace note sparks, Capturing paired passion’s ecstatic breath. Romantic, but bright as the noonday sun, A mellow moderato middle paints Her sweet sunlit face coursing through a crowd. His eager cells shake as when aspens quake. Hope surges in allegro con brio In a haze of hot glances, sighs, and moans Chords balance lyric clef ivory keys. Fingers rhapsodize love into glory. Passion’s racing cadenza thrills the keys Notes merge in one accord coupling the twain. Chords soar in a Hallelujah chorus A heaven-bound helix of harmony Grimly gasping at what he cannot reach And share with the girl with the sunlit face. A scherzo turns a torrent of torment Until its crescendo of chords stops cold As a car slamming a brick wall headlong, Leaving its radio playing, faintly, In a steady staticky staccato Like water dripping on a rusty roof. His coda is a black-clad dirge wrapped tight Around a slow, dim sunlit melody. Musical memories flood him with pain. Stoically, he plays on without restrain. The music of muscles and synapsed nerves Bleed arias from marrow of his bones Oozing the sorrow from his entwined soul Mated to the girl with the sunlit face. The tempo slows, his heart a carapace Of life with the girl with the sunlit face. Feelings bereft, nothing left to devote, His coda stumbles to its final note.