The mattresses first stock the supplyroom of attention
They are nailed to the wall, stained relics to the out-of-place
Attention is passed to the musicians and fried chicken to the audience
Side orders of cole slaw and bluegrass, a few notes at first, like children gathering.
Children gain speed and the story-telling fiddle enters
Gathering the notes around. The notes become notes again and the
Audience becomes the children, trying to hear the ending before falling asleep,
Heavy with food, the room turning sideways—the mattresses aren’t out of place at all.