Curt Siffert's Piano Musings

Her Worry Dolls (7/19/07 #3)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:30:05 -0800

She got them in Guatemala, and kept them next to her matryoshka dolls. At night, the worry dolls would dance and try to offer comfort to their counterparts.

Swamp and Sand (7/19/07 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:53:25 -0800

Think of the opposite of erosion. Sand and swamp, to soil, rock, and clay, and finally vegetation and peaceful structure.

Empty Sanctuary (7/19/07 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:55:51 -0700

That church is always humming to itself a bit. It comes from deep inside the walls. But you can only really hear it after the congregants all leave.

Last Message (5/26/07 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:53:48 -0700

It was a young planet, taken too quickly.

Ignorant Meadow (5/26/07 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:06:48 -0700

Something horrible happened the night before. Can the meadow not acknowledge that? Sometimes when morning breaks, there is a rudeness to the peace.

After The Rain (4/12/07 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:19:27 -0800

The rush of the storm has passed. The only things that got washed away were those things you can do without.

Tie Down For The Storm (4/12/07 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:22:26 -0800

Some kind of storm is coming. You have to tie down everything that is loose. Because you don't know what will happen. Something. Might as well tie yourself down, too. Then just wait.

Unbond (3/22/07 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:31:57 -0700

Sometimes we get pulled apart slowly. We might not notice it at first.

Kingdom (3/22/07 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:57:41 -0700

The kingdom was mighty. Great gates, wide courtyards, and deadly intrigue... but falling into disrepair.

Junkyard Robot (3/17/07 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:12:26 -0800

Rusted metal and twisted gears, but still kinda cheery - he limps around the junkyard helping other contraptions to better themselves.

Broken Frost (3/17/07 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:08:46 -0800

A dark bird is flying, testing the cold air just before spring. Some life might emerge from the still-frozen ground, but it might be too early to survive.

Glass and Steel (3/7/07)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:27:58 -0800

There is a stillness after destruction that is peaceful and stunning.

Metal Knotted (2/28/07)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 01:53:35 -0800

Start with a loose tangle. Find two ends, and start pulling them in opposite directions. Make them want different things. Force through the tangle, fight against it. Turn it into a knot, make it harder, as hard as metal. Then remember, how could metal ever become a knot? To untangle, remember where it started. With softness.

Dancing About Architecture (2/8/07)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:16:17 -0700

It's a strange structure, new. She moves around it tentatively, slowly assembling the pieces in her understanding and movements. It's a careful embrace, but ultimately whole and secure.

Baby Naiad (1/5/07 #4)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:27:27 -0700

She's there to protect the spring and the lake. She moves smoothly, gracefully, arranges the moss and lilypads just so, makes sure the moonlight glints at the right angle, keeps the water clear. The problem is, she got knocked up. And her daughter, who just hit the terrible twos, is running around trying to "help".

Matchbox Traffic (1/5/07 #3)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:29:00 -0700

I'm trying to drive this car, but it doesn't steer, it has no brakes, and the doors don't even open. There are wrecks all around me, cars and trucks turned upside-down, but none of them appear damaged. The traffic rules don't make any sense. And just when I think I'm getting somewhere, this giant toddler reaches down and grabs me.

Old Meadow (1/5/07 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:01:54 -0700

It had a good run, but it'll probably turn into a swamp soon.

Choir Rehearsal (1/5/07 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:36:25 -0700

It's Monday night. Sunday's service went well. But it's halfway through rehearsal, the break was too short, shoulders are slumped, people are leaning back in their chairs. The sopranos are giggling about something unholy. Time to focus for one more runthrough.

Lost Village (12/7/06)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:10:32 -0700

We had to hack through the brush to get there. It wasn't mist that hid it, just miles of desolation and occasional thickets.

Homeless Ghost (12/6/06 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:47:17 -0700

He needs no food and is not rooted to a spot. But he also has no place to go, and cannot enjoy the warmth of the sun or the touch of a stranger. The world's beauty is only an apparition to him.

Tinkerbell's Little Brother (10/31/06 #3)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:00:00 -0700

He's clumsy - graceless with his flying, always spilling things. Takes some wrong turns. Sometimes he just makes a real mess of things. It probably frustrates him that he'll never live up to his sister.

A Merry-Go-Round In Rain (10/31/06 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:13:21 -0700

The kids are stuck inside, waiting out the rain. But the merry-go-round slowly moves as the puddles grow.

Eidolon (10/31/06 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:01:54 -0700

You've forgotten something. It's important. It's about yourself. It's buried in yourself, and you've forgotten. But you'll be reminded. You'll hear hints of it from time to time. You'll hear more when you're ready. You'll remember when you're ready.

The Interrupting Sister (8/28/06)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Wed, 23 May 2007 02:11:56 -0700

Tommy and I keep trying to sneak up on the swamp monsters. We have to be really careful because they're sleeping. We have to be quiet. But Chrissy keeps asking us questions! We didn't want to bring her along, she keeps ruining everything!

A New Steeple (8/26/06 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:40:08 -0700

It was over two tons. The pastor worried it was too big. It moved slowly through the air, helped by cables and the crane. It was impossible. But then it fit.

She Owns A Boat (8/26/06)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 01:28:50 -0800

She owns it herself. Sometimes she feels a little out of her element, but it's still hers. It rocks her gently. And sometimes it's a little intense. But it's hers.

Driving Away (7/20/06)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:00:00 -0800

It is night. It had rained. You're leaving, and it doesn't matter what comes next.

Phoenix Grace (7/17/06)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 19:00:00 -0700

The second chance, bestowed to those that don't expect it and don't realize they deserve it.

A Young Church (7/5/06 #2)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 19:00:00 -0700

It starts with a gathering. Healthy ideals. A gentle church is formed, and it grows - hopefully not too quickly.

Ice Cream Bully (7/5/06 #1)

siffert@museworld.com (Curt Siffert) — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:00:00 -0700

He's seven, and tough. He might take your ice cream. Or maybe he'll make you swallow your bubble gum.