My once sweet voice, so innocent
and full of strength and power
is now reduced to rasp and hum,
its range half what it was.
It rumbles, where it once so glibly
glissed; the pure head tone
has sunk into my heavy chest
and breaks where it once slid.
Disuse, abuse and pure neglect
have left my instrument
(once proud and fearless,
capable of stratospheric feats)
dented and dusty, ill-repaired,
and painfully withdrawn.
It’s clear unless I brush it off,
and soon, it will be gone.
23 JUN 2005
