Thursday Poem

Piano Epistemology

I’m pretty sure this piano exists,
taking up a whole corner of this room as it
does
with its grand heaviness,
its black curviness,
and its 2 legs in front, 1 in back. 

But just to make sure,
instead of kicking it
or banging my forehead against it,
I’m going to sit down on the adjustable bench,
lift the long glossy cover,

and try to play “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most”
in such a way that the notes will represent
the many undeniable things of the world
and the chords the way
we can’t help feeling about them.

by Billy Collins
from
Plume Magazine