Lost Voice

She sung the notes exquisitely.
High, melodic, modulations,
In time to the beat, in tune to the instruments.
They were in awe of her gift.
She was a bird on a branch
Praising life.

She rehearsed a new song.
Strange beat, note combinations.
Not even the orchestra got it right.
The conductor lost patience
He chided and scolded her
He said, "you are out of tune."

She tried her best but that wasn't enough.
It was not her style, not her range.
Her vocals couldn't cope.
The conductor yelled at every minute mistake.
She'd never been told
Her voice was horrendous.

Her throat constricted
Her mouth went dry
She lost her confidence;
Couldn't hit the notes, couldn't keep the tune
He yelled again
She cried.

She didn't sing after that.
She couldn't sing after that.
Colds, bronchitis blocked her voice.
The day she would have given the concert
Throat cancer was diagnosed.
She had no energy to fight it.
She couldn't sing, she died.

© Leona Seufert


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