Overtones by Jamie Spenser
one note on a big Steinway
with the sustain petal down
sounds
like a whole song
the overtones light up
and a piano becomes the piano
they lie down on the length of a string
and wind their waves around each other
on an iron bed some get quiet new ones appear
the fundamental quiets down
the
harmonics
fade
the note
a confession of love
that had to be played
but can’t be taken back
Jamie Spenser has been published in New York Quarterly, Disappointed Housewife, Perfect Sound Forever, and Sheila-Na-Gig. Jamie is based near San Francisco. Twitter: @jamiewritr.