It’s a Whole Lotta Love vs. the Fifth Symphony—

a Zeppelin/Beethoven duel.

Two cellists weave melodies—one white-wigged duo

in puffy shirts, the other in chocolate brown leather,

each pair picking up the other’s gauntlet

to run a cadence of dare, defy.

Pine scented rosin dusts the air as muscled arms

parry bows, sweep strings, exalt forte, scrub so hard

horsehair dangles from bows that swish away

any would-be pest, no rest for ripping.

Leaning in, butts off chairs, galloping. Legs squeeze out

double stops, triple stops, climb the hills of chords,

between spotlights strobing in sensurround, a bow

teeth-clenched, a cello belly thumped like a drum, now—

not mere cellos, but Strats and Tele’s, galvanic, hammering

               two notes for every one, high-pitched strings find overtones,

bend notes—smearing—shredding—wailing, frenzied fingers

               running up and down frets and necks lighting mayhem’s fuses

and it’s Paige, Clapton, Van Halen, Hendrix

blended like good whiskey, quadrupling brilliance.

Katherine Edgren has two books of poetry: Keeping Out the Noise, by Kelsay Books and The Grain Beneath the Gloss, by Finishing Line Press, plus two chapbooks: Long Division and Transports. Her work has appeared in journals including: Coe Review, Birmingham Poetry Review, Light, Hanging Loose Press, Orchards Poetry Journal, and Third Wednesday, among others.