(If this is your first time on this site, I recommend that you begin with "Are You Prepared For Success?" [Introduction])
If you are a male reader please go to #27m
The Touch of the Master's Hand
"Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth her while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," she cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar," then, two! Only two?
"Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three. . ." But no,
From the room, far back, a gray haired woman
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
She played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And she held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone," said she.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master's hand."
And many a woman with life out of tune,
And battered and scared with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a flask of wine;
A game -- and she travels on.
She's "going" once, and "going" twice,
She's "going" and almost "gone."
But the master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the changes that's wrought
By the touch of the master's hand.
I strongly suggest that you write down your immediate reaction, after passionately reading this poem.
- Who do you know that could greatly benefit from the "the touch of a master's hand," and why? (Could it be you, or could you be the master?)
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touch of the master's hand master auctioneer violin Myra B. Welch
4 comments:
This touched me so much. The master who is showing what beauty is coming in this case from an old violin. What is scary I just wrote a story for writers Island which is along the same line although not as powerful. I will post it soon.
marja,
This is, by far, one of my favorite poems. It is so powerful in so many ways.
Mel,
How true! I like the analogy: woman/violin (like the violin women can produce beautiful tunes when played by the right man)!
There are so many women who fall in the hands of scandrals, and it makes me furious! Who's to blame? Men, women? I don't know; it is not as simple as in the violin's case, is it?
I know some people who could benefit from my "touch" of knowledge, cause by learning and listening people teach me things in return, know what I mean? Their questions, and doubts make me improve myself so that I can offer more and better!
And I know a lot of people from whom I could learn a lot, and who could increase my intellectual value! And you are one of them, Mel :).
Cheers!
Max,
You are good. There are so many analogies that can be drawn from this poem. You picked one of the most important ones. This is one of the reasons that I create both a "male" and "female' version to each of these poems. Also, as I told you before....just wait until I get to the Section III installments. It all comes home.
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