finding the whole note

an unrhymed rondeau of ten

cannot find middle C — starting point key
we sit squeezed cheek to cheek held by the bench
’43 Mason and Risch hammers armed
await apprehensive apologies
“Walloping Elephants” stares back at us 

stampede begins; harmonic overtones
lend layered meaning to simple practice
dad’s dreams jut out like black ivory sharps
cannot find middle C

metronome has no place in the tempo
of little fingers finding their forte
shatter staccato score of my false self
its demands for perfection; instead 
live into legato longing to love
[even when] we cannot find middle C

Written by Scott Moore
Illustrated by Landon Wideman

Inspired April 2020