OWL OF THE DESERT
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The Parable
of the Piano


​

​The antique piano was a lovely piece of polished mahogany
a symbol of the parents' good taste presiding in the parlor
expensively displayed for guests to admire and moreso its owners 
a testament of fine breeding and culture, the piano bespoke promise.

     No one played it of course.

Refinement, though, did not describe the children of the house 
​much to their parents’ dismay.  So unlike the instrument,
smudged and disorderly, the children never behaved
as an instrument should, finely tuned.  They lacked the decorum 
of an etude; their labors fell short of a concerto’s grace.     

     No one was allowed near it of course.

“You’re too close.  This is a priceless piece. 
You might scratch the wood and mar its beauty.
You might chip one of the keys.  Do please be careful.
Someday it will be yours,” the parents promised.

     No one disputed it was a precious heirloom of course.

Years yawned while the piano sat untouched
a source of pride for the parents and their guests
while the children grew and moved away.
The parents died and now the piano gathers dust 
in the backroom of a second-hand music store downtown.

     None of the children would have it of course.
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  • Home
  • Poetry
    • Seven Stations of the Cross >
      • Jesus Condemned to Die >
        • Life Signs
        • Fashionable Religion
        • Tithing Declaration
        • A Pretty Important Detail
        • Jesus is All
        • Salt Lake Temple
        • Zion in the Lion's Den
        • High Noon
        • Bookmark
      • Jesus Stumbles and Falls >
        • Unveil
      • Simon of Cyrene Bears the Cross
      • Women of Jerusalem Weep
      • Jesus Stripped of His Garment
      • Jesus Nailed to the Cross
      • Burial and Resurrection
    • Fleeing Egypt >
      • Tower of Babel
      • The Orchard
      • Tithing Settlement
      • Chastity for Churches
      • Sign
      • Cleaning House
      • Elijah
      • Rulers of Sodom
      • Beware
      • Two Churches
      • Beginning At My Sanctuary
      • Toll Road
      • Get it Strait
      • Corporation Sole
      • The Religion of the Circle R
      • Fig Tree
      • Eve
      • New Jerusalem
      • Shemlon's Shore
    • Ascending Sinai >
      • Ark
      • Sin of the Calf
      • An Idol Observation
      • Dew from Heaven
      • I love you, Elder Holland
      • Easter
      • How Sweet
      • Haiku
      • The Barn
      • Patron Saint
      • A Conversation with Brigham Young
      • Mine Testimony
      • The Meadow
      • The Gardens
      • Ice Fishing
      • Without End
      • Forest
      • Continental Divide
      • A Great Sacrifice
    • Promised Land >
      • Lanolin
      • Zion
      • Wisdom
      • Take Up Your Cross
      • Was the Sun the Same
      • Plain and Precious
      • Bridegroom
      • Faith
      • Amos
      • But First
      • Wax
      • Parable of the Piano
      • Repentance
      • Wake Up, Child
      • Cold Storage
      • Covered Wagon
      • Multiply and Replenish
      • Rollercoaster
      • The Baptist
  • Blog
    • Previous Posts >
      • 2023 Posts
      • 2022 Posts
      • 2021 Posts
      • 2020 Posts
  • About
  • Contact