Melody

It was so morose we could have lost a tear or two. But we don't cry, do we?

(No, she answers, we don't).
But we were tempted, weren't we?
(She's laughing. I think that means yes.)
So the song was about a sea and the ship upon it. And the sailors said they were sorry, they didn't mean to hurt anyone. But they sank anyway.
No, no. Don't cry, dear. We don't cry, remember?
(Quivering lips. She's too much compassion.)
And it was dark, too. Only the bass could recall its song. So the others all paused and we listened to the lonely fingers of the bass.
That was the saddest part of the song. Because nobody else noticed that the voice was still there.
Nobody thought dry sobs were the same as songs.
It was so morose we could have lost a tear or two. But we don't cry, do we?
(No, she answers, we don't.)
___
I might try to write a book.