I was not always like this,
A worn and musty shell.
My ivory not shattered,
My ebony not cracked.

Illuminated
By a thousand staring eyes,
A fire burned within,
The strings long since eaten by time.

All the lights went out,
A single light remained,
Her hands, swift and delicate,
Coaxed the wind and waves.

A music played within me,
But that was long ago.
My fire has fizzled,
Her hands have turned to stone.

I need my music
To ignite the spirit aflame.
So play me,
And let me give
More than sweet memories of melodies
From a time since long ago.