In the dead man’s room
beside the piano that George bought,
a wardrobe of identical velvetine suits
which appear yellow in the sickly light
like the chipped ivory keys
and below the suits concealed
cigar boxes filled with calling cards
correspondence carefully preserved
and fantastically illustrated
amidst the filth and disorder
such a life this company
has staged for me under weak footlights
a tragedy with farce in places,
and props of multiple umbrellas and canes
Under the piano pedals tied with string
the deceased has written, warning us
of the devil who once haunted this room,
which confirms for me the artist’s motivation.
J. R. Salling is a collection of cartoon voices, Bullwinkle in particular, but he is not especially animated.
© 2007, J.R. Salling
Halfway Down the Stairs 