Sunday, February 12, 2012

The Touch of the Master's Hand

This has been a week I'll always remember. On Monday, I turned 37. On Monday, my grandfather passed away. He was 93. This is the poem I read at his funeral. It was his favorite...



The Touch of the Master's Hand

'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

Myra Brooks Welch

4 comments:

  1. Christine, please accept my condolences on the loss of your grandfather.

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  2. Came by from the Etsy blogs team. What a touching poem! I'm sorry for your loss. Hope you and your family finds the strength to get through this tough time.

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  3. Christine, thank you for sharing such a lovely poem one of my favorite and may you find comfort in the Master's Hand.
    Michelle
    Healthiersteps

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  4. So sorry about your loss. It is a beautiful poem!

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