Ghost of Notes

Ghost of Notes
By Beth Cortez-Neavel
a song like butterflies
unfolds across the page
like caterpillars
the notes slip between the lines
dangling from their stems.
a song like butterflies
unfolds throughout the measures
as caterpillars spin cocoons
the crescendos wrap you tighter
stronger
spinning higher on this single strand
this note so pure.
a song
like butterflies
unfurls its harmonies and melodies
in new hues
the tempo escalates
drying its wings
so it can take flight
in one soaring heartbeat
up
up to the highest note
a cadenza that flits
from petal
to pedal
tiptoeing on half steps of air
whole
whole
half
whole
whole
whole
half.
and the decrescendo follows
like a wing so still
the tune at rest
an ended flight
yet,
the faint ghost of wings
still lingers
hovering
in mid-air.