Today I opened
a window instead
of blasting the air
conditioning in my apartment.

Yes
please.
Come to me,
autumn.

Every day
for the rest of my life
I’ll sing for you,
Lola.

Take care of my grandma
up there, Lord,
And place her on the end
of the line in the alto section
of that choir of angels
She’s
a beautiful mezzo

The feeling is always the same.
The rush of blood.
The tight grip around my heart.
The fear mixing with excitment that turns into pure joy at the sound of the first note.
But I have to admit. Tonight was something different.
A few months ago, it was a ridiculous melody I hammered out of the upright piano in my living room.
Tonight, it was
My tragedy, joy, humility, love, love, love, and hope.