Analysis of The Violinist and His Fiddle

Mike Arnold 1962 (Nashville)

Ode


With a box of wood, the violinist fiddles
His fingers upon its strings to play
Aiming to solve great musical riddles
With awesome technical display

The horse’s hair on the bow is tightened
Then the rosin is applied for grip
Across the cords it is drawn enlightened
To convey a musical trip

Tuxedo donned as performance attire
He lifts the fiddle from a velvety cocoon
To the concert platform he does aspire
The deftly serenades with a lovely tune

Melding the fiddle to his form
United with the sublimely divine
His jaw grips its gorgeous form
Which no one would ever malign

Works of sonic art he imparts
While listeners contemplate
Stirring emotions in sundry hearts
They have feelings to relate

Deciphering musical code with alacrity
In quest to conquer a great piece
With the hope of avoiding a travesty
His toil does not ever cease

Though similar to solitary confinement
As some may think it drudgery
A violinist’s practice brings refinement
Thus, leading to great mastery

Collaborating with colleagues to perform
In ensembles large or small
When energy is spent, he retreats to a dorm
After visiting the dining hall

Expressing himself through musical agency
Is the violinist’s greatest desire
Until physically disabled by deficiency
From the fiddle he will never retire.


Scheme ABAB CDCD EFGF HIHI JKJK LMLM NLNL HOHO LELG
Poetic Form Quatrain  (89%)
Metre 101110001010 110011111 1011110010 11010001 0101101110 101010111 0101111010 10101001 1011010010 110101010001 101011101 010110101 10010111 01010101 1111101 11111001 11101101 110010 100100101 1110101 0100100110100 01110011 10110100100 1111101 11001100010 11111100 00010101010 11011100 0100110101 0010111 110011101101 101000101 010011100100 10001010010 01100001010100 1010111001
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,306
Words 221
Sentences 1
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 36
Letters per line (avg) 29
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 117
Words per stanza (avg) 24

About this poem

I play the violin and want to encapsulate the experience of being a violinist.

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Written on November 20, 2013

Submitted by DarthFiddle on June 13, 2022

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:06 min read
52

Mike Arnold

I was born in Tennessee, grew up in West Virigina and currently reside in Ohio. I began playing violin at age 10 and have been doing so for 50 years. I have a degree in music and work in the music industry. I enjoy writing poetry as a way to express my ideas and feelings. more…

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