Update of a Classic Christian Poem

Today’s episode, in which a classic piece of Christian/Inspirational poetry gets updated, more accurately reflecting contemporary attitudes…

Touch of the Master’s Hand

Not exactly the way you remember it…

adapted by Ruth Wilkinson It was 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 grey haired 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 I just cried, I hardly could believe I’d almost got that old violin – I could have had it for three. ‘Til that interfering old know-it-all sod Stuck his nose where I wished he had not And some overdressed twit outbid my three bucks By a thousand times what I had brought. So I watched that old fiddler return to his seat Near the back where he had been sittin’ As he passed where I sat, I just couldn’t resist I stuck out my foot and I tripped him.