The Piano Coffins

An imaginative story.

The Piano Coffins…  By  Sami Khalil

He had finally found the town that reflected his ideals. Moving to Fairhope, Al., escaping the hussle and bustle of Birmingham’s city life, an ardent hobbyist took up coffin making with an added dimension to death; real pianos, nestled outside the vaults, made into them, powered by solar energy that played music from dusk to dawn. He remembered his wife’s fragile voice (who was an outstanding player of this magnificent instrument) that broke the silence while crawling across her face were the signs of death, achingly churning across his sea of emotions. Her eyelids had the shimmer of grayish hues reflecting into a mirror of final agony. When she entered the dark labyrinth of the unknown at last, his life felt like a detritus of abandonment. As the story commences and with maddening grief, he took away with him only her beloved piano for safe keeping in the new residence. “If life is worth savoring to the fullest, so shall death be,” he thought to himself, “for music soars on the wings of emotions.” “And if death comes knocking to those who welcome this unknown visitor, one should embrace him with impending ambiances.”

With great marketing skills, he placed succinct signs above his barn door that read: “Serenade the Dead,” “Calm the Spirits,” sprucing up sales as he promised his wife to keep her hobby alive and well. “Death does not have to be grim and dark, even boring.” Clients, far and wide, came to purchase, making the local cemeteries hum with piano melodies all night long, heard by the locals to their amazement and shock. They had that colorful, bold rhythms that suited many personalities. “Souls have mystique as music does,” “Music has energy as life does,” he would tell friends, too. All were happy in this town by the sea, except a grouching dead ole’ man, a known bearer of evil, who attacked the coffin maker at home with an evil vengeance for disturbing his peace, cutting all his fingers along with both ears, gouging his eyeballs, haunting the “Piano castle” he lived in. Visitors to the castle can still see a figure playing at the piano the melodies of his wife and the ocean waves. The shriek killed him but couldn’t silence the sounds of the music even in cemeteries. They kept playing the music of hope; Fairhope.

Reviews

[Effie]

Reading this I found myself far beyond the sorrow of death to the energy of life.
Your words seem to soar, going out to forever with the energy you create with your story.
You are so truly gifted my friend! It is a joy to read your work. Thank you.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you so much Effie for this wonderful review and kindness. So glad you enjoyed the story. I like how you sum things up. Take care.

[Effie]

You are very welcome.

[Sami Khalil]

:).................

[barleygirl]

This is one of the best things that you’ve written that I’ve read so far! This is hilarious! I love humor thru exaggeration & I laughed more & more as I read on, becuz of the way you stretched each description to the crazy maximum. The best lines are those describing the wife’s death – that’s brilliant & hilarious writing. I couldn’t stop laughing. Your imagination has outdone yourself with this one! Thank you for the belly laugh (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I'm so happy and honored dear poet and friend for liking this write and accolades that inspire me to go further and deeper in our beloved art. Your opinion means a lot to me. God bless.

[Mrudula Rani]

Any excesses bound to lead to catastrophe! Even music however soothing ...when played insistently can cause adverse effects on human brain. Imagine a places of rest humming uncomfortably, no wonder the grouch went nuts and put an end to The piano coffin maker.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Another great take on this write. You are very astute Mrudula Rani. Thank you so much for the visit and review.

[Mrudula Rani]

Sami, It's always a great pleasure reading your marvellous stories.

[Sami Khalil]

:::::)))))))))

[alanwgraham]

What an imagination - it's a bit unsettling! I always enjoy reading something out of the norm. By the way is this an advert for your business? I suppose death and music are connected but in a conventional way so you may find some custom.
Seriousy - I like the way out wackyness of this.
Cheers,
Alan

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you so much Alan for this wonderful review and take on this write. I like how you speak in wisdom and great understanding. Honored by your visit.

[ms. barrie]

this is truly spellbinding.
as always, the narrative,
dialogue, atmosphere captures the reader’s imagination.

your gift for writing {storytelling} inspires, and
awakens imaginations.

my favorite being these lines:
//
“Music has energy as life does,” he would tell friends, too. All were happy in this town by the sea, except a grouching dead ole’ man, a known bearer of evil, who attacked the coffin maker at home with an evil vengeance for disturbing his peace, cutting all his fingers along with both ears, gouging his eyeballs, haunting the “Piano castle” he lived in. Visitors to the castle can still see a figure playing at the piano the melodies of his wife and the ocean waves. The shriek killed him but couldn’t silence the sounds of the music even in cemeteries. They kept playing the music of hope; Fairhope.
//
...particularly resonates with me. this is a story that
i want to keep visiting ...hauntingly beautiful, eloquently profound

thank you for writing and sharing your literary gifts
~ brightest blessings :))

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Brightest thanks and appreciations for taking the time to review and share your wonder with us. You are truly gifted with pen , mind and heart. I'm so glad you have shared your perspective with us. God bless in all ways...

[ms. barrie]

you’re so very welcomed, Dear Poet...
my sincerest thank yous, you deeply humble me, your gracious words are truly appreciated, and treasured. i as well as many others are grateful for your benevolent presence, inspiring works on the café!
i have u high 💫

i look forward to visiting your artistry again soon...G_d bless you
in all there is as well, keep shining:)))

[Sami Khalil]

:)..................

[emmajoy]

'Clients, far and wide, came to purchase, making the local cemeteries hum with piano melodies all night long, heard by the locals to their amazement and shock. They had that colorful, bold rhythms that suited many personalities. “Souls have mystique as music does,”

For me the coffin is the Person, possessor of all things pssible during life.. but, at the end is but a shell that shows what he or she was.. and should always be remembered for. Wrong, maybe, but how my mind immediately travelled, I get things so wrong these days, but, Sami, I try.

Your story is such an intriguing one, seems logical, is sad, sadness has reflections that shine or hide, Seems that the coffin {bodies) have, in life, responded to everyone met in thousands of different ways.. and so the soul spreads its wings.. even facing evil.. such as the demon in your story. Death, cruelty often hightlights the truth.. if the protagonist allows weaknesses to show. Perhaps. Great writing, Sami, more than worth your long-lived own appraisal!!!

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! So true and well articulated. I love your take on this write. Don't worry, no right or wrong but we all have our perspectives on life, death, music , souls and so forth. The protagonist could not silence the music of life and awareness even in death. It kept playing the rhythm of eternity. May God bless you. Thank you kindly for sharing and appreciation.

[emmajoy]

I'll forgive the little oversight, just this once! :)

Over the years your writing has movedthi way-that in leaps and bounds via different routes, Sami. Now this post is not only unusual it's way off the scale.. the idea is extraordinary, the writing as always, expressive.

[Sami Khalil]

You are an inspiration and a model of dedication. I can't thank you enough.

[emmajoy]

Wow!? You're very welcome.

[Sami Khalil]

:)...................

[...]

Frist of I like that idea of piano like coffin. Very original and very symbolic people are like good or bad melodies. I like your very poetic style but you still keep us on the stabil ground. There is very detail describtion of death and dying. Very important part of our life . For me is music very important there is always lot of inspiration. Like in this great short story well done.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I love your take on this one and your generous support. You are right on the money. I like how you said people can be good or bad melody. So true. God bless.

[...]

This story have nmagic to catch reader attention. So I hope you get more reviews and response all the best and have nice day.,

[Sami Khalil]

Be blessed...

[VALORMORE DE PLUME]

I like this. The narrative voice, opens vivid images while the overtones suggest the images also bare emotional scars. This is a great short story. I enjoy your use of language, throughout the piece.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you so much beloved poet and friend for this wonderful review and kindness. Glad you like it.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Sami... when my Mother passed many moons ago, I composed a poem and sang it as part of her eulogy about her love of children and flowers, but most of all about her love of G-d... as a violin played Softly... Your poem is haunting and the ending is like the world situation... much too violent with wars and innocence lost.
truly, Pat

[Sami Khalil]

“If life is worth savoring to the fullest, so shall death be,”

Sami Khalil