Violin
- Amanda Johnston
- May 10
- 1 min read
Updated: May 11
by Alicia Harmon
He plaaaaaays
like he’s hurting hisself
like it takes a lot
to play the sound of clouds
This
is what sky blue sounds like
He winces like he’s looking at the sun
Black sunglasses on – and a snapback
to block the overwhelming
He plays with frayed strings
that fall over the fingerboard
like weave, like bone straight bussdown
like weed – like the smoke that pours from the burning end
The paper of his sheet music is brown like he baked them with fire
The edges fray
and curl away
from the world like they are overwhelmed
WE ARE OVERWHELMED
A Black man plays Bach for two Black girls, the full song,
He stands halfway between Half-Price Books and Goodwill
in half-cut-off jeans
a blue button-up with no sleeves
to prepare against the sun!
There’s nothing more beautiful than bright light
on your darkest day
I sway back and forth
We sway back and forth
He sways back and forth
and he slows to a stop
and breathes
We tip and praaaaaaise cause we cry for music
If you like the music, offer a little help to violinist Shawn Lesure
Venmo: @Shawn-Lesure