Unhelpful Captions: Dramatic Music

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Music which accompanies a drama.

The baby’s mouth is wide open.

Dad’s mouth is wide open, nose scrunched.

Mum’s mouth is wide open, hands against

temples expressing... shock?

Who’s listening to the dramatic music?

Who can hear over the screaming?

What is it? A thud of bass? A crescendo

of strings? An insistence of electronica?

Does the rhythm tighten or remain constant?

The questions last longer than the advert.

Don’t ask what it was about.

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Emma Lee’s publications include The Significance of a Dress (Arachne, 2020) and Ghosts in the Desert (IDP, 2015). She co-edited Over Land, Over Sea (Five Leaves, 2015), was Reviews Editor for The Blue Nib, reviews for magazines and blogs at http://emmalee1.wordpress.com. Facebook: EmmaLee1. Twitter @Emma_Lee1. IG: @emmainleicester.

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