By Ear

the old dark upright piano
sat at one end
of our long dinningroom
silent until mom
sat down on the piano bench
one key at a time
she found whatever tune
was dancing around in her head
when mom played she sounded like
the old saloon piano players
the ones in the cowboy movies
sort of like honky-tonk
she laughed as she played
happy to go
wherever her music took her
listen closely
memories still hear
the music and laughter
that filled our house
so many times