there comes a sound
from far below
the tremor of
a piano
the strings attached
whipping the wood
to sentience
to livelihood

the diaphragm
in far-below
a squeezing-red
sì o no
organ pipes
gushing blood
my heartstrings hooked
to my limp tongue

no courage for love
too scared to be happy
the air reaches up
two words keep me standing
I do,
I do