Bear this in mind… I don’t write poetry. But there is something very poetic in this photo, and that something—whatever it is—inspired me this week.
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The dead of ivory gone
88 keys stripped bare
The white is their treasure
Not the music that soars emotion among heights and depths
Not the sonorous miracle peculiar to this ambitious creation
Not the woodwork that curves beautifully, gracefully strong
They want white whom can only lay lifeless, void of sound or joy on their own.
Those cold and finite thieves steal away the dead,
And leave the bones of the miraculous to grow new life.
Friday Fictioneers: 100 word stories inspired by a photo that Rochelle Wisoff Fields posts every week. This week’s photo courtesy of Anshu Bhojnagarwala
Mostly Words 
Lovely poem!
Thank you! 🙂
I can really see the way you got it from the image…
Thanks, Bjorn 🙂
I don’t read poetry, but it worked for me! Well done!
Thank you, Iain!!
-Rachel 🙂
Beautifully done!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you very much, Susan 🙂
-Rachel
You looked beyond the picture and saw something different. Nice one.
Thank you very much, Keith!
-Rachel
Just a thought, you do write poetry. Very well done!
Aw, thank you Violet, that’s a very reassuring thought 😉
-Rachel
Nicely done, Rachel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle!
-Rachel 🙂
Nicely done. Good to ear.
Thank you!!
-Rachel 🙂
A very different take, indeed. Beautiful poetry.
Thank you so much!
-Rachel
For a non-poet, that’s pretty darn good. I love ‘cold and finite’. You hint at, but don’t say out loud, that the thieves can also be read as those who poach ivory from elephants. I think you’ve written a little gem.
Aw, thank you, Penny!! That is so encouraging… I appreciate your comment 🙂
-Rachel
You err in your statement. You do write poetry. And this was lovely.
Thank you, Dale!!
-Rachel
You captured nicely the soul of the piano left for dead.
Thank you!
-Rachel
It has me in mind of ivory poachers and how they leave devastation behind.
Yeah, another comment mentioned the ivory poachers too… an apt association!
Thank you!!
-Rachel
This is wonderful. I can’t judge the poetry since I know nothing about poetry, but the tale you tell about the focus on the seemingly precious while not seeing the worth and value of that which makes the precious shine is beautifully and cleverly told, and timeless.
I really appreciate your comment… I went out on a limb with the poetry and am encouraged to hear that it was understood : )
Thank You!!
-Rachel
Lyrical and flowing, a powerful poem. As others have said, it put me in mind of the ivory trade, and how awful that is. Well done.
Thank you!
after taking the ivory, they left a dead elephant in the room. nice metaphor.
Nicely done, Rachel. I was going to take the poetic route too but went the silly way instead 😉
Maybe they transferred the ivory to another piano?
I think maybe you do write poetry.
Aw, thank you, Dawn.