About sixty or so of us
wearing our white guardapolvos,
stood on ascending steps
facing the piano,
at our elementary school
auditioning for choir.
The music teacher
asked us to sing
our country’s anthem first,
then the song about the flag.
I knew then—God knows—
that my voice rose angelically
above every singing boy’s
in the crowded school hall.
When the song ended, her hands
rested like herons on the keys,
she looked at me, almost
sweetly, and said
sweetheart, for the next piece…
only move your lips.
