so let me wait again
in the imaginary theatre
for you to play
to uncover my own
sadhappy music
until its diminuendo* takes over
this auditorium this
hesitation between strangers
cuts through what is unserious
the less than real
which cannot last
let me wait again
be taken by that
slow heartbeat of chords
until everything coheres
and sound is flooded turns radiant
let me know again
that whatever your playing is
whatever the bass and treble of its
insight that is uniquely yours
its resonances tones and overtones
its half-desperate intimations
whatever its deep secret
we cannot live without
not really
so let me hear again those
opening notes that open us
lead us to where
thinking feeling body and the soul
are coaxed awhile together
and one can take a breath
let me sit through
that charged hush afterwards as you
so gradually return to
where we are waiting
and meanwhile Pålsson
compelling necessary artist of our noisy time
as you relax your foot on the pedal
stand to the world's applause
let me too say thanks
* The Italian musical term diminuendo (abbreviated dim.) literally means “diminishing,” and is an indication to gradually decrease the volume of the music.