It creates a long, slow, aimless
tune, a dirge for a labor, blues
of the piano itself. Vibrations
that have wobbled and warped
get hauled back to pitch and harmony.
The tuner cranks a ratchet--
he's a melody mechanic,
an interpreter of intervals.
After a long slumber,
the highest and lowest
notes wake up. The musicking
of tuning fills the room
with foreboding, making
a nest for songs that hands will
ask the piano to play later.
