Morning bark, open keyboard drummed Still night gown, slippers, hearing aid Ludwig’s fingers chase away echoes, traces Avenging ivory, disappointing romance Sequin phrases murmured, murdered, recast

Pedals, smoke, ten finger contradictions A pause, a caress, a smile, a push A quarrel, a threat, a growling retreat

Second movement tendresse Angry memory machine, restless moons Serenade to reorder carousels Misunderstood gestures, promises Stern Germanic rebukes

Ah, Ludwig, how you shower The haze of notes transgressant Detached perfume, home brewed Reacting on you skin, burning A warming glow tracing five lines Fenced second movement’s finale Seductive aspirational gloom

Hope! Rise again, pensively Propped in youth, sunshine Mid-morning hunger, bill collectors Lessons to administer, talent To search out or ignore.

Rivals, Princes, commons Soldiers of argument, exposition Ramified progression, mounting Reaching singular insistence Banners mounted, dismounted, replaced

Cavalry, righteous verdicts sans appeal Signal the coming miraculous release Unprecedented white light tension Mirages swallowed, grainy Drained of mortality pallor Eternally ambiguous pulse Enshrined shimmering lagoon.

Bedros Afeyan 3-11-11 NJ Transit Train Penn Station to Princeton Junction