(Loosely inspired by the opening and closing cello passage to Andante of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto)
Vieux vielle vielle;
Back, breast, rib, and spine
Of classic pine and staving;
Broad boards of shoulder rounded,
Neck arched like a shepherd’s crook,
Or a gaffer’s hook,
Stooped with mild pangs
And with steep pains
That only oils and kneading
Can assuage.
Fingers across the string board
Where bow strings double-stop.
Plucking through paunchy innards,
Our armchair cellist,
Pausing for rhythmic accents;
Then sull tastiera,
Or sull ponticello:
From varnished, harnessed,
Honest chambers,
Now threading
Through transient hour
Both his and our
Wizened bones with song.
Vieux vielle vielle;
Back, breast, rib, and spine
Of classic pine and staving;
Broad boards of shoulder rounded,
Neck arched like a shepherd’s crook,
Or a gaffer’s hook,
Stooped with mild pangs
And with steep pains
That only oils and kneading
Can assuage.
Fingers across the string board
Where bow strings double-stop.
Plucking through paunchy innards,
Our armchair cellist,
Pausing for rhythmic accents;
Then sull tastiera,
Or sull ponticello:
From varnished, harnessed,
Honest chambers,
Now threading
Through transient hour
Both his and our
Wizened bones with song.
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