The Alto
Location
The first time she saw her
Was on the way home
She sat away from the back of the seat
Leaning forward as though
She were a little anxious
But she did this every day
So she must’ve been fine.
She rode that way every afternoon
Her eyes young and mature at the same time
She thought she was younger.
The next year she saw her in class
She learned she was a singer
But not just a singer, one of the best
In the entire school
She thought she was younger.
She remembered her from the year before
And the button on her bag that told of her pride
And she learned she was a senior
So when she watched her onstage
From the balcony that night
Her second to last show on that stage
She fell in love with her voice
She clapped for all but cheered only for her
Because she wanted it to count
She wished to know her better
But she knew better than to try
She was older, if only by a year
And there was really no point
She would leave so soon
So instead, she lay in bed
And felt sad for what could not be
Her heart heavy with anxiety
Her stomach afloat with butterflies
But she wouldn’t have her movie ending
Because she was leaving soon
And her voice would take her as far away
From here as it could
She decided she would watch for her name
On playbills, and maybe see a show or two
Because if she couldn’t have her
At least she could hear her
She wished she were younger.
But perhaps she should just stay back
And watch the beautiful singer
From the balcony and cheer her name
As she took her triumphant bow
At the end of the night.