unlit matches

that piano in the charity store

i fiddled with
the keys of
an untuned
piano

and imagined a 
faint untouched
melody.

but the notes
fell short

distorted and
sickly.

carelessly looked
after,

this piano creaks
at the slightest
touch, 

i'm not well
equipped to
fix the 
deterioration.

sitting by the
cracked keys,
gnarled strings

wondering was 
this splintered 
instrument

treated with grace 
and kindness
before?

or has mistreat
always fallen
across its wood?