The Story Of The Violin Bow Poem by Alexandre Nodopaka

The Story Of The Violin Bow



The violin is a musical instrument that was birthed some five
odd centuries ago. Let me tell you its construction intricacies.
First there lived a frog that rested on a lily pad in the exact center
of a large pond. No it's not going to be a Grimm fairytale.

That particular amphibian was mechanically engineering inclined
and was looking for a good screw to attach at the tail end of the
bow for the purpose of adjusting the tensionin the hair. it was
daintily looking for a clean bush with the help of a fairly long stick

that it made of a floating twig. Now came a complex portion of the
design that entailed the spanning of the bow stick from its ebony frog
to its headplate with natural white horse hair. Yes it had to be made of
only such color and such equestrian animals because pigs have only

short hair and cannot be ridden. A horse was finally found with strong
and long enough hair to submit to the constant sawing motion.
And would you believe here's why Russia is so important to the USA
because that's where most of the bow hair comes from.

As a matter of fact, my father once took me to a Hungarian quartet
that for the longest of time performed nerve shattering sounds.
Impatient as all children are, I asked my father how much longer
we had to stay.

As long as it takes to saw through the pieces of lumber spanning
their chins to their outstretched palms was the answer.
And here's the reason for me telling you this story. I bought
such a bow at a thrift store and not the violin that accompanied it

because I wanted not to hear the music but when hung on the wall
the bow was a found art object.

Friday, October 5, 2018
Topic(s) of this poem: archiving
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