I can never get the Bluetooth speaker to work
and it was a present from my husband
so I try not to grumble
even though I secretly glare at it
every time I walk by.
But today I had enough
and decided it was time
to fill the house with music.
I press the same button over and over
and call the speaker names
in my slow voice
that sounds calm
but isn’t.
I yell at the kids
to be quiet so I can concentrate.
But we’re making up songs, mama.
I look up at them
dancing in the living room,
dressed in clothes they dug out
of the summer bin
and I suddenly remember the winter day
my friend’s mom taught me
to cut back a rose bush.
Music is like that.
Sometimes it takes
the heaviest quiet
to remind it
to bloom.