Learning the Scale

I learn the scales of er's, nm's and ght's
and fix the rhythm of periods and colons
fumbling do and redo crossover shift's and spaces
never mind the F keys hidden places

My good sister ten-keys by touch
like adjusting a crooked bracelet
unconsious of her skill

how the metronome clacks
tense the moments pass
I don't know what I want to say
but I studder the keys anyway

then in a disconnected moment
the music comes unbidden
to my mind a concerto fully formed
when noone's there to listen