Mr. Larry, such a moving poem.
Mrs. Lowe has two pianos, two loves, two passions.
She let's others play one piano but not the one that was given to her by her husband Mr. Lowe. At first they couldn't afford it, but her husband surprised her later on by buying it to her. That piano has an emotional value that not many would understand. I love how the story read like a scene. I imagined Mrs. Lowe playing the piano for her husband and her husband admiring her.

Its written in the best storytelling way ever!!

I love it <3

Larry, this is one incredible story! And I cannot tell you how deeply this has touched my heart....

I sincerely wish I would have read this whole poem earlier before I used my nominations but I already saw it nominated as I know this has been moving for many poets on here.

I have to tell you it's one of my big dreams to buy a grand piano for the house I will settle in, in my future. I just starting looking into them and planning a few years ago when I saw a grand piano at our music store in town. I want to start saving when I earn money and say to myself if I really want this dream to come true I will set aside a small "fund" to grow over decades..... but they're so beautiful... the only times I've ever played on one was at a recital for my piano lessons. Otherwise I have a keyboard I practice on.

I LOVED the geniality of teaching all the neighborhood children those simple, traditional songs. It's sweet and heart-warming because of how willing Mrs. Lowe is....plus, I thought it was cute at the fingernail part you mentioned because I do have long fingernails, I don't bite them, so they clank against the keys sometimes!

The love you have expressed here is beautiful, passionate, everlasting, and just from reading I know she is devoted and still thinks fondly of her husband she lost. You can just tell through reading a few lines this love they shared is firmly rooted and they both always looked out for each other... him making that sacrifice of the piano that seemed maybe "impossible" because of the cost.

The softness and beauty of the ending stanzas just puts a smile on my face! She dedicates her time now to him, putting all her passion in playing on this baby grand to make him proud and express all her love.

So beautiful, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this and it's something I would dream about, a romantic couple who noticed the little things and made them possibilities.....this woman is an example of such pure love, playing to admire/appreciate/love her husband.

Congraaaaattttssss on your win :D

Congrats on the win!!! So well-deserved & I'm happy this made front page :]

Awwww. This reminded me of my aunt.

Congrats on the win Mr. Larry!

This is such a endearing write and the ending
of the poem actually got to me. I could imagine
Mr Lowe dancing with his wife making that area
of that room like a beautifully decorated palace..touching write with vivid scenes!

Congrats on the win :)

[Judging comment for week of 7/08/13]:

What more can I say about this piece than the sincere love of the couple that is painted throughout your words... you warmed my heart and put a smile on my face in showing this very spirited woman who teaches piano to neighborhood children, maybe not "professionally", but teaching them the basics, the traditional songs we can all sing together. Felt such peace in this poem, especially with the relationship of the man and woman and how he notices the little things that interest his wife. He cares. And he doesn't just see she loves that baby grand, he works toward it for her. What a legacy of love he left behind and I know she carries it on each time she touches the keys. This is her passion and in that music I feel so much is expressed, and it's sent straight toward Heaven.

So touching! I loved how your skilled hand still kept flow and rhythm in this storytelling. What a story of these two lives uniting and the true definition of a beautiful romance!

Judging Comment for weekly contest : July 8, 2013

There are those poems that tell and there are those others that show and "Mrs. Lowe has two pianos" is a great example of those type of poems that stream an image instead of just telling an idea. I like the approached that Larry Chamberlin took. I also think that just showing, it's a risky move but in this case it was worth the shot. Often times, we as the reader may want to read how the narrator is feeling about the story he/she just narrated, but in this case I find it fascinating how Mrs. Lowe is depicted that I just grew attach to the character and came up with my own feelings. I immediately pictured a woman who is passionate about her job? or hobby? I'm unsure about that part, but either or this woman taught many children how to play the piano and still continues to do so. It is her perseverance and motivation that I find so inspiring and even more that she continues playing the other piano to her husband. He may be just a picture in that piano he bought for her, but there's more to it than just the melody she plays for him. And that's where this thought hit me, that people often say that materials things come to a second plane and I agree, but there are times when material things keeps us closer or at least make us believe we are closer to those who by destinies reason are no longer with us and it is because of that that people start cherishing a material object the most, for the emotional value it holds just as Mrs. Lowe. She doesn't let her students used that piano but only her. This poem is moving and there are undoubtedly difference ways of how to feel/react to it. Great write.

Judging comment:

"Being completely honest, the first time I read this, I wasn't sure on if I liked it because of the story formatting style of the piece. However after reading it a few more times I realised I was beginning to fall in love with it more each time I did.

The emotion and meaning in this is phenomenal. I couldn't help but smile at the mention of acrylic nails, I'm not a music player but can imagine how tiring that would become to someone who is.

The last two stanzas are what really won me over. I find them beautiful and incredibly moving. It heartens me to think there is people like this in the world, those that don't let go of their loved ones and refuse to drown in loss and despair but to keep the happier memories alive.

The whole concept of Mrs's Lowe's love being never ending, lasting forever and dedicating her heart to Mr Lowe night after night once again, even though he is no longer with her. It reminds me that those we love are never truly gone, not as long as we keep their memory alive, and Larry does a wonderful job at displaying this within this poem.

Such a moving and heartfelt poem. "

An emotional felt story for the ages. A love that's never ending. I now have a smile on my face and a warmth in my heart. Superb write.

This piece is beautiful, it tells a story and shares an emotion that may or may not be one close to your own and yet you are so able to make it honest and detailed while still in some odd way being relate-able. It is a very well penned piece and it says so much in such a profound manner.