French Horn (2003) – Alyse Knorr

I had found God watching

Jackie Nelson dance to “Da Dip”

at prom. I had cut a two-inch hole

through the center of Macbeth. Not

a good year, except for the horn.

My teacher really did send me to the closet

to learn it. I really did reach my hand

inside the shimmering bell, though

no one ever told me what to do with it.

I was given a uniform, same as every other

uniform; I learned to never touch

the brass without gloves. I followed

orders. Beneath the shako rim my eyes

looked like every other eye.