Julia Metzger-Traber

MARIONETTE FOOTPRINTS

Oh the sound of music

not like Julie Andrews

live

vivid

loud

the sound you can see

the emotion you can hear

the notes pull the salted water capsules down your flushed cheeks

your heart loves the object of the musician’s affection

why don’t you return his love?

you ask

why can’t I be loved like that?

you wonder

the notes speak for themselves

they tap dance on your heart strings like the musician’s very own

marionettes

he plays a chord and closes his eyes

you remember last summer

one distinct moment in time envelops you in its reality

it is real

the sun beats on your back

the grass tickles your legs

the laughter skips in your ears

and then you hear it

the guitar next to you

I miss last summer

the moment spits you back out

but leaves footprints on your soul

the flats and sharps fly around the room

sending

innocent

unsuspecting audience members

into moments of their own

the pain hurts again

the love bubbles

the music lives

he gives it a pulse

you give it a meaning