I’m writing a memoir/family history for my children and gandchildren. It’s reviving many old memories. The following is one. I had always meant to pay tribute to her. But time and memories slip away along with good intentions. Thanks to writing this memoir, I was finally able to write this tribute.

Antoinette

my half-hour violin lesson
follows her’s 
I’m sitting in the professor’s
waiting room – his 
kitchen
his apartment’s main
room – his studio
I hear her playing
beautifully

my turn
she comes out a
Greek goddess tall
classically beautiful
looking only at the kitchen
exit to the hallway
she heads straight for
it looking neither
left nor right

knowing of my crush 
she purposefully
walks by ignoring
this skinny 
Poindexter-looking 
14 year old
dying for just
one encouraging
smile

my lesson’s not
going well as
the professor slaps
my recalcitrant fingers
with his violin bow
mind not on
my lesson
caught and following
my Greek goddess

Antoinette

–LE