the piano bar

"calloused hands stroke the piano keys
notes sadly caress the darkened air
as glasses tinkle and people chatter
eyes brimming with tears as the song remembers
memories, dripping with the iciness of youth
days forgotten and forever cherished
slowly melodically the hands play
aching for the next note, recoiling from it's sound
as candles drip in their own agony
giving, but receiving nothing in return
the chords change, b-flat to a-minor
the lilting of gentle laughter over the din of the crowd
hands glide, effortlessly float with the ache...
of what could have been
leaving behind notes never played"

i wrote this poem a few years ago. let me know what you think.

the painting is called "piano bar" by italian painter alberto sughi