Who's Sorry Now?

Whenever the piano was ready
to bare its teeth
Ma would lift off the sheet
and bang out a few tunes.
Often Crazy and Who’s Sorry Now?
Occasionally Dream A Little Dream.
 
We’d leave our tasks and listen,
respectfully ignoring wrong notes
and eccentric improvisations.
It was always a humbling experience.
When it was over
we’d proffer polite applause.
 
Ma would remain at the piano
a while longer,
hunched over the keys,
weeping, but silently
of course.