The guitar player watches
the mandolin player
intently, with anticipation
and a little smile beneath
his mustache
as the mandolin
sings its aria.
The mandolin player
watches the guitar player then
as the guitar sings
its own version of the aria.
All the while the drummer
smiles, eyes closed
as though relaxing
alertly, in a boat,
loving the sun on his face,
listening with his whole body
to the current’ s deep voice.
The bass player
is an expert
at the tiller;
his is the ground
beneath the river,
the muddy bottom
where life is made.