She hears Chopin on the piano

The lonely orphan child
sits and stares at me- the music teacher at the school
where she cleans and serves the tea.

As we play and practice for the day
I see her listening
as she hums away.

Unexpectedly she turns to me.
"Sir, is I be doing wrong
Patience is my name,

I be da cleaning lady
to hear da music in my brain
and it take away the pain.

I so happy until I be back at home
where dere be no music,
only my soul that gives me pain."

Now in tears that blind me,
not knowing what to say
I ask her- "How can I help you?"

She turns and sighs.
"Sir when I clean, dere be programs lying on the floor
can I take dem home so my sister can read to me"?

I need to know how
Chopin plays trills and C sharp cords
but I only hear da music like this---

Then as clear as can be
she hums the Larghetto melody
from the first piano concerto.

3am- I wake from a dream to hear her say -
"Sir, is I be doing something wrong?
The orchestra has gone - now I can feel the pain"

Confused, I cannot sleep
keep thinking about Patience
and how blessed I am.

Today, I made a vow
to teach her how to learn and play
the piano on the stage.

Sadly, she left three months later,
thanking me for the singing lessons
and the basics to play piano on a road show.