Classic Poem

THE VIOLIN.

The versatile, discursive Violin,
Light, tender, brilliant, passionate or calm,
Sliding with careless nonchalance within
His range of ready utterance, wins the palm
Of victory o'er his fellows for his grace;
Fine fluent speaker, polished gentleman—
Well may he be the leader in the race
Of blending instruments—fighting in the van
With conscious ease and fine chivalric speed;
A very Bayard in the field of sound,
Rallying his struggling followers in their need,
And spurring them to keep their hard-earned ground.
So the fifth Henry fought at Azincour,
And led his followers to the breach once more.