Can you tell me the name of this poem or the words to it.

[allensm]

I once read a poem about a violin that was somewhere and everyone thought it was broke, useless, or out of tune. Until one day a stranger came and picked it up an played the most beautiful tune on it. I need the words to this poem, but don't remember the name of it so I can find it on the internet. Does anyone know it or have the words for it.
sam

[steubner]

Hi Sam,
Is it maybe a song you've heard? Your description reminds me of Wayne Watson's "Touch of the Master's Hand"...a gorgeous song. Here's a link to the lyrics: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/w/wayn...andlyrics.html

Hope that helps!

[TeeGeeDee]

If Shannan's post wasn't the right one ... perhaps you can glance at the list in this link:

http://artfuljesus.0catch.com/lit-op...olinpoems.html

HTH and ...

Happy Crafting!
Tina aka TeeGeeDee

[GinaLin]

I think that is an old poem called "The Master's Touch" or "The Touch of the Master's Hand". If you don't find it, let me know, I know I have it in a book around here somewhere.

[mztamela]

That's a great poem! What a wonderful message!

Here is a link to the poem. There is a movie out now too, I think.

http://www.barefootsworld.net/touch

[frosted_gorilla]

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile:
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar"; then, "Two!" "Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three ---" But, no
From the room, far back, a gray haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed it's worth." Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with a life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine;
A game - and he travels on.
He is "going"once, and "going" twice,
He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand

(The Touch of the Master's Hand - Myra Brooks Welch from Best Loved Poems of the American People)
Jimmy Dean sings a version of this too.

[GinaLin]

As a child, my mother and grandmother would read me poems from that book all the time. I learned how to write by copying the words to these poems and it was the first book I learned to read from. This was always a favorite of mine. I could see this story playing out in my head. I didn't know it had been made into a song though.

[fionna51]

Here is a recording:

http://www.imeem.com/flamzofice/musi...-masters-hand/