Piano

When Gagarin finally opened his eyes


He saw what Ptolemy saw, it was just


An issue of precedence it appeared.




And had that thin flare rocketed him out


At the speed of light, then all there ever was,


All there’ll ever be, played in the same instant.




"If you look in the heavens for heaven,”


Jesus might have said to Didymos Judas,


“Don’t expect there to be a single star.”




But of all the spheres there is only this one


Where there is music, even if others


Are not silent they haven’t yet been tuned.




Sitting in his chair bolstered on false feet


The old pianist looks out through slatted blinds


At a melody of autumnal stars.




Too soon, as it always is and will be,


Curtains are drawn, pricks of light excluded,


And a whole life passes in a moment.




When it comes to being launched into space


Eyes shut as a reflex. Meanwhile, on earth,


A fine piano stands with its lid closed.




                                                      


Dave Alton