Allen Theater Matinee

Allen Theater Matinee

The plump white-haired woman played
the upright piano, polyester slacks hanging
off the bench, keys tinkling Gershwin while
couples, singles, book club or Red Hat
gals sat down, popcorn and soda in hand.

She played, facing the red velvet curtain,
mindless of her just-taken-out-of-the-box
creases in the back of her white sweater,
head bobbing to the tunes, turning pages
crisply, never looking behind or side to side.

At exactly 4:30 p.m. the owner approached
the stage, waiting for her to finish the tune,
close the book, turn off the light, place it on
the floor, gather her purse, straighten that
shapeless sweater and turn to the audience.

Beaming at the low applause, she slowly thrust
those heavy legs, one in front of the other,
up the carpeted aisle, greeting this one,
that one, patting the locals on the hand,
disappearing into the light, a prom queen.

Kim King
Hershey, PA USA
Doctors without Borders