I’ve never played
violin never touched
one till now
how did I convince
them my god the place
is packed balconies even
I walk out how am
I doing
(applause applause)
I could run off
I could tell them
I could stare laugh
cry fall over
I could faint
“Violinist faints
every evening and
Sunday matinees”

how do you die when
you really need to

instead
I lift my bow
play Vivaldi
and wonder how it is
I came to surrender