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