The Piano

Cree Probst in her flowers in Midway, Utah.
She authored and published many poems and short stories.

The Piano

by Cree Probst ©1985

The poem refers to Beatrice and Madelyn and Marilyn (the twins).

Today they took the piano

It was out of tune and old.

The ivory keys were brown with age

'Twas worthless I'd been told.

So many years I had varnished

And polished and dusted its wood.

Now it was old and useless

I needed the space where it stood.

Today they came and took it

And as I watched it go

Fond memories came racing back

Of the lovely long ago.

A cunning little six-year-old

Had begged us every day

To "please buy a piano,"

So she could learn to play.

And long before her daddy

Could find the cash to spare,

She thumped out tunes of make-believe

on a table or a chair.

I saw the stars shine in her eyes

The day her dream came true.

I saw a talent come to life--

Her love for music grew.

I saw her grow from year to year

And, oh, how she could play!

How time goes by--my little girl

Grew up and went away.

I dusted the old piano,

And even it seemed sad

Until two little brown-eyed twins

Began to make it glad.

They played and played--the music seemed

to brighten every day;

But as before these little girls

Grew up and went away.

For years it stood forlorn and still

Grown old and out of date.

On top were pictures of the girls

Who'd brought it to this state.

Today they came and took it

And as it went I knew

The piano didn't go alone

For a piece of my heart went, too.