The Violin

• Michelle Donaldson, Grade 11, Ellenbrook Secondary College
• Poetry
• 2015

Excellence Award in the 'The Write Track 2015' competition

Her arm was a violin.
Played with a metal bow.
Swift movements across,
With ease, that only she knows.

At first she practiced monthly,
Then weekly, then daily.
The strings wore out.
Too often she played, vaguely
Knowing the strings were snapping.

Day in, day out,
Her practice grew longer.
Sweet melody to her ears,
Her bow wouldn't linger.
And the symphony's she knew
Would never be heard.

Her arm was a violin.
No one could know
The songs she played.

The songs she played
With her steel, metal bow.