To the Accordion Player Outside  Whole Foods

by Sally Zakarlya

You conjure whole geographies of tune
Scottish moors, streets of Tijuana, hills
            of Italy
 
Rattle of grocery carts
            children’s shrieks
                        dusty parking lot
all dissolve as your fingers find their way
from song to song around the globe
 
Few shoppers stop and fewer still toss
            coins into your hat
but I am caught by melody
forgetting apples, milk, and cheese
 
I am lifted out of dailyness
taken up, transported by your chords
            and trills
let the shopping go—while you play
            I’ll listen
  

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