Saturday, March 15, 2014

'THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND' a poem by Myra Brooks Welch



                                                A Gem of Poetry in Dad's Old Book

This morning, I would like to share a poem written by Myra Brooks Welch.  I found it as a newspaper clipping in my Dad's very old copy of Poems That Touch the Heart by A.L. Alexander, a book filled with lovely poems...My Dad loved poetry.







The Touch of the Master's Hand
     by Myra Brooks Welch

"'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 folk," 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!  And who'll make it 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,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer said,
"What am I bid for the old Violin?
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 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 the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand."












Every soul, whether the body is dressed in riches or rags, is precious in the eyes of the Lord.  Every willing soul  at the Master's command is made new and whole and forgiven of sin by "the touch of the Master's hand.." c.c.
                                                     
Thanks to Myra Brooks Welch for her beautiful words.