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To Mairi McClave's previous piece

Old People Music

Old people music.
Mothers and reluctant sons.
Wrinkled couples reminiscing.
Daughters dance precariously
Atop fathers' toes.

O Utah,
Mountain Time is frozen time.

They take turns coming over,
Undulating in and out of concern
And ignoring me.

How strange-how strange.
The sweaty palms on the nape of my neck
Meant to comfort,
But leave only the traces of fingerprints.

"Sing us a song.
Shed us a tear."

It's resolved-
As pairs feel for where
Their feet used to go.
It's all resolved.

Then we dance.

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