Daver Austin Poet Free verse

30 Pieces

Hanks of horse tail
Fractured hair
Slipping pegs    and
Rosin dust

Memories of these tunes
I used to play as a kid
Hadn't heard them in many years
One page each    or
Half-a-page
In this book with a blue cover -
'Thirty Violin Pieces You Love To Play' -
Like hell!
Like hell at the time anyway
Maybe three or four I liked
I liked tunes with flavor -
Hot goulash...Hungarian zest
Spanish dances
Arabian stuff    fast    with scimitars    camels -
There were two serenades
One by Drdla
One by Drigo
Mischa Elman played
On a 10 inch Victor label
I would play the brittle shellac over and over
Thread-bare
They were in the book -
'Thirty Violin Pieces You Love To Play'
Maybe four dog-eared pages
The rest?
POOF!
Then
A friend sent me this CD -
'Thirty Violin Pieces You May Have Forgot'
Played by ___________
Never mind
Let's just say the guy is TREMENDOUS!
Not since Elman!
No tone like this since Elman!
Not since those threadbare serenades
He plays all the tunes were in my book
I shivered
Goose flesh
I wept
I danced around the room
I love everyone
I played the disc over and over
Contained within -
All the tunes I'd skipped over
All the tunes I was too young to grasp
AND    the two serenades    Ah
Plus
Albeniz's Tango
Song of India
Salute D'Amore of Elgar
Scheherezade
NAILA!
Many more
Oh how young I feel!
Oh the sound!
Oh the images!
Oh the love!

So?
It isn't so bad
This getting old

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Andrea Dietrich July 12, 2010 at 6:54 PM What a wonderful write, DAVER. I loved feeing your love for this "old" stuff (heehee) Wait till I am 90 and raviing about Herman Hermits from the 60's . My grandkids will look at me like an alien. LUv, Andrea

John Heck January 30, 2009 at 3:18 PM I love music so much, Daver. And this poem made me want to sing and dance in the streets...even at my age! LOL! Have a great weekend! Peace always, John

January 30, 2009 at 2:18 PM Had to chuckle at the closing lines in this one. Interesting variance of line length to convey your thoughts. Keep on dancing and sharing your talent with us. Have a good day. Karen

Corinne Curcio January 29, 2009 at 10:23 AM Bravo! A fellow musician (hope you're still playing) Thank you for the trip down your memory lane - and your excitement over hearing music that you can appreciate even more now that you're older. I agree :-)

Sharon Winter January 29, 2009 at 4:37 AM Your love for music is exuberant! Yes, we certainly can appreciate some things so much more in our older age! Am jealous of your music background and of your excited grand appreciation. How wonderful for you! Enjoy! Love, Shar

Kristin Reynolds January 29, 2009 at 3:19 AM Perfect! I just got my son a violin for Christmas, and am currently looking for a teacher that works on weekends - not easy! Can you do it? lol love this zesty write, love, Kristin

Michael Degenhardt January 28, 2009 at 12:57 PM I think you tend to appreciate it more, a lot more, as you get older. My nephew plays violin for the Tampa Bay Orchestra. My dad as well played it and now my daughter learns it and deals with the frustration, but I know she will look back one day and just be in awe. This is lovely and so reminiscent of sound filled days. Michael