What drives its player to pump forth um-pah
rather than soft sounds? Burning calories
each blast perhaps? It’s not making moola,
for sure, knowing those meager salaries
musicians garner, even in New York;
even for bowing famous violins.
Perhaps it’s forced torsion produced by torque
from the rotary valve, or helicon’s
wrapping body like a significant
other, though weight smacks of heavy metal.
Or human lips sensing passionate pant
of clinging to huge-cupped, flower-petal-
sloped mouthpiece. What lover’s kiss could beat that:
when those two as one belt out a B flat?
Roger Armbrust
February 18, 2012
