The Accordion

The accordion
can't stand up.
It has too many folds
and weak places.
If it is held
and squeezed just right,
it makes beautiful music
and perfect danceable rhythms.
A clumsy player, though,
squeezes it in all the wrong places
and it squeaks and squawks
and there is no rhythm that can be discerned.
But whether it is held and played
right or wrong
the accordion
can never stand on its own.
It is too weak.
Too full of folds,
which could be easily torn.
It always, eventually,
collapses,
with a big sigh.

Marian Drake
July 9, 2005