waiting
for the 5 bus,
leaning my soul
against the stucco wall,
--- Mel’s Music Shop,
lessons for all:

e note,
c note,
d, f, g,
major/minor
chords,
more chords,
fingers
strum/pluck,
pick a flare.

an eighth note,
quarter...half,
sometimes full,
and out of bounds,
empty sounds.

bridges I’ll never cross;

I’ll never ever learn it all,
I’ll never play the guitar,
I’ll never be a rock star,
what’s taking the bus so long?

(Published in "Poetry Monthly")