Unbending
Betsy Littrell
Her fingers, long and lean—
a piano player’s.
She finds her hands strumming
dark notes — adagio.
This is who I am.
The notes become wild, ferocious,
without giving her body warning — vivacissimo.
That is who I am.
She smells
blue in the air.
Fingers relax, unbending.
Betsy Littrell is a whimsical soccer mom to four boys, working on her MFA in creative writing at San Diego State University. Her recent or forthcoming publications include Little Patuxent Review, Adanna, San Diego Poetry Annual, The Road Not Taken, Prometheus Dreaming and Literary Mama among others. In addition, she volunteers with Poetic Youth, teaching poetry to underserved elementary students.
“Like”, “Share”, and comment on this poem to nominate it for the Annual Swimming with Elephants Publications 2020 Anthology.
Click here check out the 2019 Anthology: Trumpet Call; a Swimming with Elephants Anthology available for only $12.95.
Swimming with Elephants Publications 
If music could be transposed into word, this would be it. Beautifully written !
Wonderful comment! Thank you for reading and participating on the site!
Love this! Very stirring and powerful!
Thank you for your comments. We appreciate your participation on the site.
Beautiful, graceful, and full of promise. This poem is excellent!
One of our favorites as well! Thank you for your comment.
Love this. Stirring and powerful.