March 2017
Lisa Wiley
wileymoz@yahoo.com
wileymoz@yahoo.com
Villanelles are like potato chips for me: I can't stop after writing just one. My first chapbook Chamber Music is a collection of 21 villanelles (Finishing Line Press, 2013). I often seek the comfort of form. I live in Buffalo, NY where I teach creative writing and composition at Erie Community College. When I'm not running, I'm writing.
Chamber Music
It’s only the cello, I look away.
We pour ourselves into chamber music,
warming up, a sonata we’ll play.
His bowing is so fine, I must pray
he doesn’t notice I’m so lovesick;
it’s only the cello, I look away.
Yet passion for strings consumes me all day,
so I apply another coat of lipstick.
Warming up, sonorous notes we play,
the heart has too many chambers, I say --
too much space to fill with music or prick.
It’s only about the cello; I look away
to the notes on the page, the way they stay
and linger. It must be some kind of trick.
Warming up, sonorous Bach we play,
the song consumes us — we start to sway.
It resonates our hearts with a little kick.
Is it only the cello? I look away.
Heated up, a warm suite in G we’ve played.
Chamber Music
It’s only the cello, I look away.
We pour ourselves into chamber music,
warming up, a sonata we’ll play.
His bowing is so fine, I must pray
he doesn’t notice I’m so lovesick;
it’s only the cello, I look away.
Yet passion for strings consumes me all day,
so I apply another coat of lipstick.
Warming up, sonorous notes we play,
the heart has too many chambers, I say --
too much space to fill with music or prick.
It’s only about the cello; I look away
to the notes on the page, the way they stay
and linger. It must be some kind of trick.
Warming up, sonorous Bach we play,
the song consumes us — we start to sway.
It resonates our hearts with a little kick.
Is it only the cello? I look away.
Heated up, a warm suite in G we’ve played.
© 2017 Lisa Wiley
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