Violin

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