third clarinet in the all-city band, 1966

or maybe it was all-city orchestra
i'd have to check my yearbook
     lost
to be sure
a way of wrapping themes of west side story
around the bus stop i got off at
for taylor allderdice high school
where the best acoustics
and passion blossomed
in the short blond hair
of the piccolo player
a far cry from my northside walk-up
& urging high school music teacher

somewhere

--- e b bortz