Surviving

by A.J. Hayes

Listen instead

It’s always hard, the winter.
The wind stiffens my
fingers and I can’t
reach the three keys above
octave that I need
to make the chord.
It’s winter all
the time now.
Seems like it’s
always night too.
But that’s not
the important thing.
The important thing is
I can’t make the chord.
Can’t make that chord.
I’ve been trying for a long time.
Damn house has fallen down.
Porch collapsed
Windows out.
Doors hanging open.
Cold wind rips through
the living room.
I’d really like to play that chord
before the piano falls all down too.
It’s mostly gone now anyhow.
It sits slaunchwise left because
termites ate through the legs.
Mice got to the strings
a few years back.
And there’s snow on the keys.
Just as well, I guess,
just as well that
I couldn’t hear the
chord if I played it.
Maybe you would.
Maybe you would.
Maybe you’d smile.
Wherever you are.
Wherever you go
when you’re dead.
Maybe you’d smile.
I’ll keep trying for that.
For that smile.
But it’s winter and spring
is a long way from here.

Bio
Latest Posts

A.J. Hayes

AJ Hayes lived in Southern California and admired the citizens of that particular patch of crazy a lot. They were a never ending source of WTF! Fiction was an art that puzzled him but - against the advice of friends and family - he kept tryin'.
+++++AJ's stories and poems appeared in A Twist of Noir, Yellow Mama and Muse, Title Fights, Acorn Review, Flashshot, The Hard Nosed Sleuth, Shotgun Honey, Apollo's Lyre and Black Heart Magazine's Noir Issue.

Sadly, AJ passed away in early March 2014. RIP.

Latest posts by A.J. Hayes (see all)

Ropes Over The Rafters (A Whoville Story) - October 8, 2012
Age, Serenity and Mick-Fucking-Jagger - July 12, 2012
Surviving - January 11, 2012

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17 Comments

McDroll on January 11, 2012 at 8:09 am

Love this so much, beautiful and sad and true….more please!
Reply
Luca Veste on January 11, 2012 at 9:04 am

I’m no poetry fan, but this struck a chord with me AJ. Excellent visuals, poignant, and incredibly moving.

Superb sir.
Reply
Absolutely*Kate on January 11, 2012 at 11:20 am

Oh that chord
how it longs to be played
and played again

and then some.

She’d like it.
So would a cat named Sloopy,
oh poet that our Mr McKuen would get wry smile at now.

You really swing it when you sling it Fedora Fella.
And that’s why all whom are touched by your words
kinda love ya,
each time the more.

Your finessin’ fan amongst fans,

~Absolutely*Kate … with high site-praise for the Daz-man too
Good presentation Bucko – Keep it up!
Reply
Rosie on January 11, 2012 at 1:37 pm

That is truly beautiful Aj..xx
Reply
Chris Rhatigan on January 11, 2012 at 3:47 pm

Excellent as always. Poignant and so sad.
Reply
B.R. Stateham on January 11, 2012 at 4:14 pm

It’s more like poetic prose set in verse. I like it. You always hammer out strong images, AJ. I like that as well.
Reply
AJ Hayes on January 11, 2012 at 4:14 pm

Thanks guys. You know your opinions rank the tighest with me. And, Daz, you are uncanny with that ability of yours to find exactly the right picture for the illustration. Thank you my friends.
Reply
Grahsm on January 11, 2012 at 5:31 pm

So incredibly evocative and poignant.

There’s no wonder I won’t read anyone else’s poetry.

Bravo AJ
Reply
- AJ Hayes on January 12, 2012 at 2:56 am
  
  Thanks Graham. Glad you liked it, mate.
  Reply
Kristin Fouquet on January 12, 2012 at 6:10 pm

Hauntingly beautiful, AJ. I will be carrying this one around with me in my heart.

I love the photograph too. It’s a perfect accompaniment to the poem.
Reply
- AJ Hayes on January 12, 2012 at 7:24 pm
  
  Thank you, Lady NOLA. The picture is plain evidence that Darren can really pick a photo.
  Reply
Mike Miner on January 12, 2012 at 10:35 pm

I’m reading and smiling. Beautiful stuff, AJ.
Reply
- AJ Hayes on January 13, 2012 at 4:13 pm
  
  Thanks Mike. I’m glad it works for you.
  Reply
David Barber on January 14, 2012 at 11:48 am

What can I say, AJ. I wasn’t that in poetry until I read some of Lily Childs’ work and now I find that you can write poetry like this. Love this, mate. Felt every word! Excellent.
Reply
- AJ Hayes on January 18, 2012 at 3:11 am
  
  Thanks David, appreciated more than you know, mate.
  Reply
Jack on January 22, 2012 at 7:42 pm

And you’re a poet??? We should Slam sometime, AJ. Your built that mood well.
Reply
K. A. Laity on June 11, 2012 at 12:11 pm

I had to come over and check out your work after your kind comment, and wow! This piece is really evocative — chilling and sad and elegant.
Reply