The Ship

~~Visual Music: The ship

The girl sits and leans back a harp to a shoulder
Placing her fingers upon the strings
Closing her eyes visualizing the music
Seeing the ship in her mind’s eye

Her fingers move along the chords
The beat low as if the ship were sleeping, quiet
Then faster as if waves were breaking upon it
The beat still low but some notes crescendo

As if it’s coming awake with the dawn
As if men move among the rigging up high
The notes hum and vibrate along her hands
Then a strong under tone as if a captain walks   

A few notes low and strong
As if the captain barks his orders   
"Ready the ship we leave with the tide"
Then with her fingers flying over the strings

Plucking here and strumming there
The tempo so fast and quick
As if men run and rush about     
Hurrying to finish their chores     

Her fingers decrescendo slowing now
Choice notes plucked here and there
As if wind fills a sail, and a ship moves slow
The low chords vibrate and hum

Letting you feel them deep to the bone
Fingers slow so much on the strings
A note here and there, played      
Till the beat fades, and the ship leaves