one
curly-haired lad
with a little boy smile
his face is clean of hair
though he hasn’t shaved for days
a tight shirt clings to his child-like torso
his jeans are torn and ratty like a homeless man
long, skinny fingers glide along the white and black keys
he looks up
“music is overwhelming me”

two
chubby-bearded man
standing behind the first boy
his scruffy beard makes him look older than he is
he wears a worn t-shirt
and skinny black jeans
with shoes to big for his feet
he has a nice grin but sad eyes
“my father left on Christmas eve”

three
tall shaggy-haired boy
with eye brows that make him look forever concerned
he stands with the others
he wears a loose v-neck shirt with the sleeves cut off to show his muscular arms
the top v shows off a small amount of chest hair
his nearly black eyes study his friends
like a researcher might study an animal
though he says nothing

they laugh, they play
together they create the music
they all bring something
standing together
in a simple shot
separately they are just men
but together they are the beast