SQUEEZEBOX br br You stretched its bellows to the limit without ripping br the fabric. So what if you weren't the guy on TV br who touched off tremolos by twitching his instrument br in time with Ed Sullivan's handclaps. br You pumped yours like a concertina, tight br in your shoulder straps, pounding the keyboard. br br You took lessons from Mr. Merino, who called br your accordion an "ax." He taught you jazz br syncopations, scales you muffed, & once, br while he stood behind you fingering your ribs, br the rhythm of a man in love with boys. br br So what if you weren't the crush he imagined, br performing in pigeon piazzas br where tourists noshed on prosciutto. br Flawless from his tap shoes to his toupee, br as he played "Sorrento" & "Lady of Spain, " br he pressed black buttons, forming long-lost chords.