Prelude

And this mineral treat
is crystal of gypsum
in evaporite form,
like a foot
of bright snow
cast onto a crust
of fleshy stone,
ready to crumble
at a touch
to powder,
telling the world
for now
of the miracle
that it remains
sitting
uncrumbled
on the piano
where the player
practices
the same piece,
layer by layer,
atom by atom
phrase by phrase,
lattice by lattice,
until he and his troupe
of pliant fingers
are rock sure
of their work.