He hides in his music room
When mom’s upset or
When presents need wrapping
He shuts the door and
opens the black case
Like alligator skin to the touch and
I listen in the dark, dank hallway
For the click of cases closed and
For the stinging notes of Stella by Starlight,
Seeping from the cracks in the door like tears.
He hides in his music room
Knowing that this space is his
For forgetting
For collecting
Cluttered and mysterious
With the answers to the questions
I will never have or know or understand
But I will always hide outside his door
And love
