overtone

.

Some listening were certain they could hear

through the notes summoned from the strings one more

following at a distance low but clear

a resonance never part of the score

not noticed during the rehearsals nor

prayed into the performance and yet here

with the first note it had been waiting for

holding silent the iced minors of fear

the key of grief the mourning from before

the names were read of those no longer there

that sound of what made no sound any more

made up the cords that in a later year

some still believed that they could overhear

echoing music played during a war

~ W.S. Merwin

from The Pupil

photo found at child of danu's little book of wonder