The Mandolin

The mandolin rests  its belly, silent in the loft,  
silent these many years untuned silent
hear the silence. Hear! Listen! Listen as once
its strings plucked, a belly to vibrate, taut  
strings tuned to perfection,fingers self taught,
a plectrum of tortoise shell.The  
black case shabby, then as now, silent
blue lining forgotten,silence has but one tune
is not forgot,yet has no pulse as once
the mandolin sang forth, unison, self taught fingers
resting too in a forgotten field.
The mandolin rests its belly silent in the loft,
silent these many years,Hear! Listen ! As
once strings plucked its belly.