Anastasia

1991 COPYRIGHT
BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND

THE INTERMISSION CAME AS THE APPLAUSE BEGAN TO WANE
THE HOUSELIGHTS GAINED INTENSITY ARROUSING MUSING BRAINS
THE PEOPLE FILLED THE LOBBY AND CORNERED THE CONCESSION STAND
I COULD HEAR THE PASSING CHATTER AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND
THE MAESTRO WIPED OFF BEADS OF SWEAT AND EYED A DOTTED PAGE
AS MY MOTHER MOTIONED TO ME TO TAKE HER HANDAND WALK TO THE STAGE
WE WALKED THE ISLE AS PEOPLE FILED OUT OF WOODEN PEWS
THE USHERS DREW THE DOUBLE DOORS AS THE AUDIENCE PASSED THROUGH

THERE IS SOMEONE I WISH YOU TO MEET
A FINE VIOLINIST WITH ADRIVE TO COMPETE
HAS BEEN A GUEST AT OUR HOUSE THOUGH I WILL WARN
NOT QUITE SO OFTEN SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN BORN
HAS SEEN YOU AND HELD YOU THOUGH YOU'D NEVER RECALL
THESE DAYS QUITE RESTRICTED TO CONCERT HALLS
BEEN DYING TO SEE YOU- YOUR PRESCENSE HAS BEEN MISSED
YOU'LL SURELY OFFER ONE MOMENT OF BLISS
TO A WEARY MUSICIAN WITH LIMITED PLEASURE
TO SEE AN OLD FRIEND AND EMBRACE THE TREASURE

LIFTED TO THE STAGE AND LED BY THE HAND
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AND FEELING QUITE TANNED
I STOPPED AND STOOD AT ATTENTION
STANDING IN A SHADOW I FELT APPREHENSION
AND THEN A WARM HAND CAME UNDER MY CHIN
AND LIFTED MY FACE AS I TIGHTENED WITHIN
THERE WERE THE EYES OF TENDER AFFECTION
NOT QUITE SO SOOTHING AT INITIAL INSPECTION
THIS WOMAN LOOKED ME UP AND DOWN
AND FONDLED THE HAIR AT THE REAR OF MY CROWN
SHE GASPED AND SMILED WITH DARTING EYE CONTACT
I ASSUMED SHE WAS PLEASED WITH THE WAY I'D DEVELOPED
AND IN HER SWEATY ARMS I WAS ENVELOPED

WHEN LAST I SAW YOU YOU HAD JUST LWEFT THE CRADLE
EARNING YOUR RIGHT TO SIT AT THE TABLE
LEAVING A RIVER OF DROOL IN YOUR PATH
YES, THAT'S HOW YOU STAND IN MY PHOTOGRAPH
THAT I TAKE ON THE ROAD TO EACH ORCHESTRA SHOW
I'VE MISSED YOU MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER QUITE KNOW
I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME TO SEE ME PERFORM
THAT PHOTOGRAPH IS FADING AND WORN
DEAR NEPHEW, I LOVE YOU AND THAT IS OUR BOND
LONG AFTER THE AGE OF MUSIC IS GONE