D. H. Lawrence's poem, "Piano" concerns its theme with the power of memory to recall and also to create illusionary states in the attempt of the adult to separate it from misperception.  Typical of Lawrence's other poetry, this poem is a "burst of unified perception" as the poet recalls Sunday evenings in which his mother played the piano.

Stanza One

The visual image of the first stanza, that of a small boy sitting beneath the piano, recalls the nurturing of his mother and the boy's contentment in the soft light of dusk and security with the "small, poised feet of a mother" near him.  In addition to this visual imagery, there is, of course, an appeal to the auditory senses with the phrase, "the boom of the tingling strings" and some to the feelings of the boy.

Stanza Two

Visual and auditory imagery is again employed with "the heart of me weeps to belong,"to the past again; the "mastery of song,"  as "winter outside" and "hymns in the cozy parlor: where "the tinkling piano" acts as the guide. While this stanza borders on the nostalgic, the ironic tone prevents the illusionary from dominating.

Stanza Three

The poet returns to himself with a crescendo of auditory imagery. In a passionate tone--apassionato--the present singer "burst[s] into a clamour," jar the poet from his sweet nostalgia to the realities of the present.  Thus, it is in vain to harbor the illusions, the "glamour" of old days played by the great black piano (visual imagery).  As he  entertains his remembrances, the idolatry with which he held his mother returns, causing him to miss the "childish days" of innocence.