the little park is sunning
tai chi elders shift in time
given the mic, she sings
taking her turn among the crowd
maybe it’s Cantonese
maybe she’s scatting,
as if I’d know
anyone is welcome

erhu player
sees me watching
asks me do I
want to play
hands me a banjo
but not quite
nylons strings with a
snakeskin head
I jump right in
clever, I hammer
something funky

I can see them smiling
while ignoring my riff
they continue on
sweet in their tradition zone
I should’ve listened
before I started
‍