The Shabby Guitar Poem

[Mallory O’Bier]

I’d appreciate any and all feedback on this one! It’s an older poem of mine that I really want to polish and improve. Thanks! 😀

The Shabby Guitar

—-

Silent is the shabby guitar 

Locked and put away

Faded are the songs it made 

Folded are the hands that played

—-

Silent is the shabby guitar 

Slowly losing its tune

While people come and they go

With the sun and rain and snow 

—-

Still silent is the shabby guitar 

Alone it patiently waits 

Until strange hands take it from its place 

And carefully remove it from its case 

—-

Upon the silent, shabby guitar

Sunlight reveals each dent and scar

The glossy finish is worn and rubbed,

It is an old guitar, which once was loved.

—-

The hands stroke the shabby guitar 

Like it’s a long-lost friend,

And then, slightly quivering 

Draw their fingertips across the strings 

—-

A sound comes from the shabby guitar

A long, sad chord that trembles and aches

Like a heart that has lost someone dear,

Someone who was once alive and near.

—-

The hands then tune the shabby guitar

Painstakingly taking their time:

All six strings are plucked and tested

Each ivory knob carefully twisted.

—-

The shabby guitar is strummed again

And this time, a chord clear and sweet

Springs forth from the instrument

The joyful sound resonates a moment.

—-

Tears fall on the shabby guitar

And the hand that strummed the metal strings

Pauses and hastily wipes them away

Before once again resuming to play

—-

Now the guitar is not put away

But placed conveniently within reach

No longer will its case gather dust

Nor will the strings stretch and rust;

—-

Now the guitar is not shabby

But its finish is restored and gleaming;

No longer silent, it sings

Whenever hands dance upon its strings,

—-

As they strum the treasured guitar

Fondest memories fill the ear

And as its sweet music rises and fades

New, beloved memories are made.

 

[Koshka]

@overcomer

Ooo, I like this poem.

I’m not the most amazing of a poet, but I’ll post any polishing I can think of in a bit.

Thanks for sharing!

First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)

[Mallory O’Bier]

Thanks, @koshka! That would be great. 🙂

I wrote this poem after my uncle’s passing. He was self-taught on guitar and left a few of the instruments behind (as well as many people who loved him).

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