in lieu of

in lieu of practicing scales
in a cold room upstairs,
in lieu of
the mundane,
go hear the masters play,
stand in awe of youth and beauty,
in music, in passion exuding from
his every pore, his joy.
in lieu of mediocrity,
stand in awe of talent, expression,
the culmination of hours and hours,
days, years of commitment,
I stand in awe
of them.