Kiri's Piano

Of all of Kiri Ito's joys, the thing she loved the best

Was to play her prized piano when the sun had gone to rest

I used to hear the notes drift down along the silent water

As Kiri played the notes and scales for her dear sons and daughters

Now me I played piano though not as good as Kiri

She went in for that long haired stuff but my she played it pretty

The old piano had a tone would set my heart to aching

It always sounded sweetest though when it was Kiri playing

In December when the seventh fleet was turned to smoke and ashes

The order came to confiscate their fishing boats and caches

And Kiri's husband forced to go and work in labour camps

And Kiri left alone to fend and hold the fort as best she can

But the music did not drift as often from up the cove at Kiri's house

And when it did it sounded haunted played with worry played with doubt

For Kiri knew that soon she too would be compelled to leave

And the old upright would stay behind and Kiri she would grieve

I loaded Kiri on the bus with stoic internees

The crime that they were guilty of was that they were not like me

And if I was ashamed I didn't know it at the time

They were flotsam on the wave of war they were no friends of mine

I went up to Kiri's house to tag all their belongings

And set them out for auctioneers who'd claim them in the morning

One piece that I thought I'd keep and hold back for myself

Was that haunting ivory upright that Kiri played so well

But Kiri had not left it there for me to take as plunder

She'd rolled it down onto the dock and on into the harbor

That old upright in strangers' hands was a thought she couldn't bear

So she consigned it to the sea to settle the affair

So many years have come and gone since Kiri's relocation

I look back now upon that time with shame and resignation

For Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free

Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity

Yes Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free

Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity