Ragtime Man
by
Dawn L. Stewart

Shoulders hunch
as Dad folds his
tall body onto the piano bench.
Quiet, gentle man,
slow smile illuminates 
blue eyes.

No sheet music for him,
self-taught,
play-by-ear musician.
Time-worn hands
brush the ivories,
dance the scales.

The Entertainer
Dad rocks the house.
Unique, he blends
Joplin, Blake, Morath
into seamless melody.

Our feet tap to the beat,
shoulders sway with
the rhythm. We
become the music.
The neighbors hear
raucous ragtime melody
and exclaim,
"Who is that playing?"

Quiet, gentle man
away from the piano.
His hands span the keys
releasing his secret as
joy cannons from his soul.