I am chatting to Nick Dennis via Twitter about this and that, SCVNGR and VLEs. I know who he is, but little more. So, I asked him if he was a passionate moodler and he replied
Think it is a great tool, if used correctly. Comes down to people, of course.. 🙂
His response made me think of – what I thought was a story, but it turns our to be a poem. Late night learning.
he made a point about VLEs – if used correctly. Comes down to people, of course.. 🙂
The Touch of the Master’s Hand
’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 bid 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 now for three ” But no
From the room far back a grey haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening the loosened 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 its worth?” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of the 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
—Myra Brooks Welch