To a musician

O sweet musician, never did I know
You used a pull-through for your piccolo
How could I guess by what means you deprive a
Musical instrument of your saliva?
How stupid of me not to think that spittle
Would incommode your playing not a little
How easily could one strong blast have mucked a
Shirt front for the immaculate conductor!
How curiously liquid every note,
Sailing on water like some tuneful boat!

⋜1939