Settling The Guitar

into the lap.
hand on the gloss —
quick rubout of the spot
on the bass side.  first note
a B fretted high on the first string.
always, the same note to begin —

all art a recovery
from first stroke.  first stroke
always awkward, always the same.

settling the guitar into the lap —
angle its face up, music up
and out in ascent.
tough on the left wrist, though.
tough on the hands that have to work
the column of sound.

the wood’s too bright
to make this dark a song
this Sunday.

into the wood, settling
the guitar, the axe
on the leg.  chop at it —
and a beer would taste good
if only convention kept me
from opening one this early.
and I would have to stand up
and I’ve just settled the guitar,
the axe, the music into place.

settling the guitar into place
for playing.  chop wood, carry
a tune.  woodshedding a new song.
settling into place.