Trio for Cello
(Musician Conspicuously Absent)
The Bow I am high-strung of horsehair, racehorse-quivering, all nerves in the gate, this quarter-horse no quarter nor quarter note but eighth, sixteenth, thirty-second, galloping sixty-fourths furlong over furlong into a split finish – curry me with favor or I will buck and whinny across your course of notes The Strings Yes, yes, I hear you say catgut is passé, yet you want purr and yowl, and when plucked hear a lion provoked – then lay your finger lightly on my neck, grimalkin vibrato or black cat magic might be yours, become a familiar – would you trade your soul for this taut beauty? The Cello My ribs were bent in heat on hard forms, my chest carved spruce as if the jackknife of lovers on my bark were not enough, love's idea chiseled by steel deeper and rounder until you say this shape will carry song, this will make a moan for two lying under the branches
qbit 
Pszzzhhhhhhhh! that’s the sizzle here. They say a pretty girl is like a melody, but this is a lot richer and earthier!
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I love how each one is a different part of the process of what makes it sing. You have your own true style Qbit and it speaks here beautifully! The last one is my personal favorite but they all compliment and work together like all the instruments in a symphony or barn hall band. Love it!!
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Thank you!!!
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Nice story of the bow, the strings, and the cello body, their feelings and promises. I like the cello body the best.
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Luv the process of here’s your life cello. Nice one qbit
Thanks for dropping by my blog today
Much💛love
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You have captured the cello in all its glorious sonorous wonder! After watching the Belmont yesterday I had to smile at the ‘bow’ description (my horse lost.)
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Clever title! Musicians — and their instruments — are notoriously fickle, but what would we do without them. Nicely done, qbit.
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I loved yours too. Was really great.
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Thanks, q!
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You have comments turned off, on your site, correct? Just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss the section or such.
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No, my comments aren’t turned off. I saw your earlier comment on my poem and responded to it.
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Oh! I just didn’t scroll down far enough. Sorry!
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No worries! Glad you found it 🙂
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It seems as if you speak from personal experience, qbit, as if you have known one intimately. I appreciated the introduction!
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kaykuala
Love the rounding off of different scenarios to the cello. It’s pretty obvious your experiences covered varied backgrounds. Thanks for sharing Qbit!
Hank
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Very intelligent and innovative poem. Good one, qbit 🙂
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oh hell – I wish I could write like this! Each stanza a perfect rendition – now I’m speechless!
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Thank you so much. This keeps me writing!!!
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I enjoyed how it is the instrument and not the musician who is centre stage here. Your cello is quite a character. Wonderful.
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Love it how each part incorporates some history of the making and at the same time all are parts itself of the identity of the instrument.
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All three are beautiful…this line gave me such a deep sigh “My ribs were bent in heat
on hard forms, my chest carved spruce as if the jackknife of lovers” Wow!
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Thank you!!
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wow, this great, the sound in this is just wicked sharp and very clever, that first stanza in particular, great images as well, just so much fun to read. thank you for sharing this.
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Thank you!
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I love the speaking parts of the cello. Well written, q!
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Love the sensual language and imagery here! So beautifully written!
The only thing I don’t quite get is why the musician is conspicuously absent. What happens when the musician returns?
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That is a great question! I *think* (but don’t know) the musician returns in the last stanza, e.g., one of the lovers, and the last line one of the “two.” Not because I intended that, but something I noticed later. And all probably I just didn’t have enough good ideas for a “quartet”, with the musician being a fourth voice. That would have been cool.
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This is a great answer!
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