my heart
plays like a dusty record
worn grooves
too deep
for the needle to pick up
silent stretches
in the midst of melody
cracks and pops
now embedded
into the memory
of song

oh

had you heard
the once vibrant
music play
echoing along
the corridors of yesterday
a symphonic structure
so full of life
of joy
of wonder
if i close my eyes
i still hear those
haunted refrains

a tear rolls down
in remembering
the wet plop
as it hits the vinyl
filling in the gaps
a cracked voice
can no longer
sing along with