In
the Poet’s House
by Terry Ofner
by Terry Ofner
I
saw wainscot of tin made to look like wood
and
I traced my finger on it and followed her up
and
heard notes as from a practice room
somewhere
above—fingers on white keys
and
black made to look like wood and the left
hand
put down a limping bass line and the right
foot
held the pedal and I felt the quiver and traced
a
finger along it and wondered—can I be
like
me? and the now
answered with a mocking
tin-like
song: “Can I be like me?” then I saw her skirt
disappear
at a twist in the stairs—and the ghost
of
piano forte made a sound like metal and wood
and
I traced a finger to feel it and I saw her
follow
herself up into the music
Bio:
Terry Ofner has published poetry in World Order, 100 Words, Right
Hand Pointing, Ghazal Page, Flying Island, San Pedro River Review,
and forthcoming in I70 Review. Helives in Indianapolis and is an
editor for an educational publishing company headquartered in Iowa,
where he grew up—not far from the Mississippi River.