11 March 2005 | Vol. 5, No. 1

Wanda Landowska

by CHRISTOPHER BURAWA

Her story involves some cow trading,

over hard drinks and

horded chocolates. It's about a harpsichord.

And a record collection

sold to a country

in the North,

a classic new government that desired

24-hour-a-day lieb munch. A tale

of hoodwinking cod for recordings

of a woman who undoubtedly

masturbated. And of a church

that imitated Bach's collar. Of Icelanders

waking up on cold winter night/days

to the horse sausage breakfasts.

To windshields wet with toes.

Let alone coffee that led to betrayal.

Or the soft rapturous card shufflers

who simply enjoyed her haste.