MICHEL PETRUCCIANI

1962-1999

                   (for Steven Weinberg)

Michel Petrucciani

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Glass Bones

1.

His first piano

was a toy.

He smashed it

with a hammer.

He said:  It was laughing at me.

2.

Michel Petrucciani

plays icicle music

blocs of chords

catch fire

go liquid

hang suspended -

aurora borealis of sound.

3.

Michel Pettruciani

is always in pain.

4.

Arpeggios are shards

raining from broken

skyscrapers.

6.

Michel plays

f above high c

over and again

again

over and again

again

over and again…

a current runs

from his finger

through his arm

down

and

up

his spine

over and again

again…

7.

Mother of Music

hold me in your comfort

keep me from concrete

Lift me above

this darkening pool

of my affliction.

Amen.

Michel plays:  Autumn Leaves