"luthier" poems
*The eyes of the luthier are fixated
on the degrading and poorly fitted Dejacques bridge,
a small piece of wood that arches
at the top of the damaged instrument -
a prized 18th century treasure
originating from Brescia, a city in Northern Italy.
With a napkin in hand lightly
soaked in an oily substance,
he unhooks the piece,
then takes a replacement bridge
perfectly fitted for it. He cracks a smile.
This viola d'amore has seen better days,
with usage and prolonged handling
wearing the value of the instrument down.
Only an expert can bring a worn-out bird
seeking its once gracious and hypnotic voice
back to life with care and precision.
This luthier is a* surgeon,
*a master at installing a sound-post replacement,
without gouging or harming
the quality of the instrument in the process.
This luthier is a* listener;
*as he retrieves and dusts off a case
filled with a spare set of strings,
he installs and finely tunes them
but never over the desired pitch.
Tense and crucial,
like the rising crescendo of a string quartet,
he strums the new strings for evidence of life,
listening to and directing the cry of each one,
like a composer.
This luthier is a* healer,
*repairing the cracks of the violin
by implementing a tactic he learned
on his many trips to Crawley, England,
where his teacher had once trained him;
by using cubic, wooden studs and small clamps,
he gains better control at closing the cracks just enough
to lace the opening with an adhesive
with little to no force or pressure.
This luthier is an* artist,
*repairing the instruments
that yearn for the sound of music,
their very raison d'être.
His string and wooden patients
scream in agony for healing and peace
with voices unheard to the people,
but deafening to him.
He leaves his signature on each new patient
as their once damaged and lifeless souls
dance to the tune of his work,
healing them, promising the advent
of a future performance.
Let them rejoice. Let the music soar once again.*
Jun 1, 2016
Jun 1, 2016 at 2:29 PM UTC
Le Joaillier des Mots
Il était joaillier des mots,
sans que l’on ne sût pourquoi
peut être cherchait il le soleil
qui trop souvent nous est masqué,
et nous cache le sens profond
de la beauté de notre vie.
Il était homme du commun,
pas très brillant dans les affaires,
car souvent son Esprit volait,
**** des chiffres et de l’âpre lutte
que l’Homme se mène à lui-même.
C’était un luthier sans harpe.
Il voyait du rêve partout,
et voulait les fermer dans les mots.
qui, s’égrenaient comme des perles
et s’écoulaient comme des notes,
la musique était Poésie
la poésie se faisait musique.
Il était joaillier des mots,
à l’heure ou tous sont morts de peur
et courent comme gibier traqué
plutôt que de goûter la vie.
Il n’avait pas peur de manquer,
moins encore de posséder,
son seul souci était de vivre.
Il n’aimait guère la violence,
qui endeuille la vie des êtres
n’avait aucun impératif
qui rend esclave des idées,
mais son sourire était de miel,
et son rire était cristallin.
L’amitié était sa boussole,
et l’humain son diamant secret.
Jamais il n’injuriait la vie
et il jouait avec les mots
comme un peintre avec son pinceau
s’efforce d’embellir la vie.
Paul d’Aubin (Paul Arrighi)
à Toulouse en France.
May 16, 2014
May 16, 2014 at 9:32 AM UTC
My parents passed away last spring. Two weeks apart, it was hard to bear.
She was a cellist, he played violin. Their instruments were old and rare.
Growing up, I’d hear them practice. For practice is the only way
to make effort appear effortless in the first chairs on concert day.
Our house resounded with their music. As I grew, I’d also play.
Our family spoke with strings, not voices.
Then there was silence, when they passed away.
Her Cello was made by Testore; His violin was by Lupot,
both treasures of the Luthier’s art.
I wept to see them gathering dust.
Mute witnesses as Death played his part.
It’s hard for artists nowadays to afford such quality.
hard, as well, for me to sell, to send their instruments away
A friend suggested a better way; to keep my loved ones’ legacy
My colleagues play with them on loan; their borrowed voices speak to me.
Feb 16, 2015
Feb 16, 2015 at 9:06 PM UTC