can anyone play this song on the piano

can anyone play this song on the piano

 

 

chrome blues

shining sax

in rhythm with a maudlin sky

the backup singers bite their nails

on their lyrics

 

voices skid to a stop

the stage darkens

there are sirens

the drummer questions

cymbals dance in his head

 

the guitar strings 

snap

a concert of brevity

of overs of overs of overs

you and I were the backup band

 

refunding love

the consequence.

 

 

erin-cilberto

1/26/22

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

The music came to a standstill. It stopped, someone is missing and I am left wondering who. What happened to the pianist? Left here with unanswered questions J. Pictured this scenario perfectly.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Chris,
j.

[duff]

in the back with a smoke and the night begins to be clear. The music sets the tone.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, duff, appreciate your read and words.
j.

[Lathen Griffiths]

This to me is almost the equivalent of can anyone fly a plane because the pilots Gone missing. I’m a musician and it seems to me that there is an integral part of the band missing here, possibly a pianist?

Lathen

[jacob erin-cilberto]

possibly....can't have that....we need someone to tap those ivories...
thank you, Lathen,
read morepossibly....can't have that....we need someone to tap those ivories...
thank you, Lathen,
j.

[Lathen Griffiths]

Definitely!

[LJ]

I like this one, and the formatting, too. The instruments do what the words look like, or rather the other way around, and the story is told with each one. The last stanza and those telling last two lines are like a cover song we all know; a sad one, but we all know it. This poem wails without being maudlin or simply emotive poetry. You made it all work for you, and that makes it really work for all of us.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, LJ,
j.

[Vertigo Cat1111]

This is absolutely amazing- I can’t help but think this poem perfectly explains what music and poetry is like. I love how the instruments seem like such big things, universal and kind of ethereal.
‘Voices skid to a halt, the stage darkens, there are sirens.’ Haunting and chilling and it feels like a real, dark stage. This poem is cinematic and amazing. Thank you for sharing!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Vertigo Cat,
j.

[John the Baptist]

"of overs of overs of overs." Yes, some concerts are definitely brief, but we always hope the next show will be better.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, John,
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I think I heard this in a smoky blues bar once in New Orleans at one in the morning. They were closing up early and a man in a felt fedora and dark sunglasses sat behind a Steinway upright and played bits of soul and jazz all mixed up in Cajun creole. He smoked a fat, smelly cigar, drank whiskey on the rocks and sang like his heart was breaking. I believe it had different words then. But it was almost certainly the same tune.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words and the sharing...those Steinways are beautiful pianos...
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I used to help build pianos in another lifetime. It was so long ago it seems like the history of someone else.

[JE Falcon]

A great poem, but when I focused on the title I got --- No, not a piano, but maybe a Cello would do! But not just a Bass, no, it should be kept lower, as in Jazz, or Blues, or in the sound of Broken Hearts beating. Maybe a Hohner in the background, like the FreightTrain that has taken love away; a sad and lonely train-sound on someone's harmonica that they found in a Station.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

your mention of the harmonica reminded me of movies with Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan and how they always had a part for the two to play harmonica. They were both so good at it.
j.

[JE Falcon]

Ah, learning to play the harmonica was on my bucket list, split reeds galore on the bass sakes back in the day, so, been there, failed at wind instruments, moving on. :)

[Kim S.]

Fran was thinking what I was thinking song wise
can anyone play this song on the piano? ( I wish I could play the piano)
I can play a guitar, I really enjoyed this write

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I wish I could play guitar....I think singer/songwriters are most talented.
j.

[Fran Marie]

"And I guess that's why they call it the blues"
comes to mind when I read this one..
The guitar strings snap ..concert of
brevity..such good metaphors throughout
A wonderfully written piece Jacob

nice work

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Fran,
j.