The Old Violin
The Touch of the Masters Hand
'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
"And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and bruised with hardship
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is 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 Masters' Hand.
- Myra Brooks Welch
191 Comment(s)
Just beautiful making us think and rethink ourselves thank you
I am 76 now. When I was 15 or 16 I did this poem for competition and did it for many groups in East Texas. Though the years have past and my voice is not what it once was, the words mean so much to me.
Love this poem. As we go into a prison doing Christian ministry the Masters touch on these women will make their lives far more valuable to them.
That's a heart-warming poem and I would like to read it next Sunday at the church service.
I heard The Touch Of The Master Hand in church today for the first time and fell in love!
Heard this in church many years ago, sung by a group of American students.The words are so special,all life is valuable in the Lord's eyes.no matter how sinfully battered a person might be.
A Touch from our Masters Hand is what JESUS gives us the opportunity to experience, grab HIS hand and become all that HE has proposed for you and live it that way every day. Use this Touch of the Masters Hand to lift others up and bring them along so that none HE has put in your path will parish.
As a child, my Dad read this to us. It’s something that I have never forget. The older I am,the more meaning it has in my life. I definitely want to pass it on to my Grandchildren, it’s been such a beautiful blessing, GOD Bless your family! Thank you so much.
READ AND HEARD THIS POEM THOUSANDS OF TIMES..............AND ONLY UNTIL NOW I UNDERSTAND THE TRUE BEAUTIFUL MEANING
really good poem
It touched my heart the first time I read it many years ago and it touched me as much or more as I teed it jut now.
Thank you for sharing
Marjorie Campbell
Learned it in school
Have the words been changed? I thought the original was battered and scarred with sin which actually rhymes with violin. I memorized this 40 years ago and was looking for a copy.
I heard this in Ireland on the radio after playing other tunes on my fiddle in the kitchen of an old Irish cottage and the owner asked 'was that the radio ?' This tune represents the outcasts of society whom we should welcome; after all one of them could very well be Jesus Christ testing those who believe they have a higher position in life by virtue that they have been admitted to a 'higher' station.
Saw this performed on tv (I think) many years ago. In church "live" a few years later. What a message! Very inspirational! Yes, I would like a copy. Many thanks.
Had this requested for a funeral service. A neat piece.
The Master my Lord and Savior -tuned me up and forgave all my sins on Sat Nov 3, 2018. The Touch of the Masters hand will change the heart and give you eternal life. Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ- and thou shalt be saved
Remember hearing this being sang in church and it stayed with me through the years. Love it then, love it even more now.
Remember reciting this in church for a Sunday School program, back in 1962.
I remember preaching a meesage in Youth For Christ way back in 1964 being inspired by the song , Touch Of The Master's Hand,
I would love a print, if one is available.
If a print is available.... we would love one.
Our parish priest read this today as part of his homily ....beautiful and full of meaning .
Beautiful story. Although I'm not religious by any stretch of the imagination, I agree totally with the message. In the right hands, a violin can play beautiful music.
I love this poem. it also beautiful as a song the message is great!
I first heard this poem in church. As I listened, I was so glad that I believed in God and "The Touch of the Master's hand". I pray for those that do not believe in God and hope that they will soon.
I have loved this poem since I was a child. I used in high school for an assignment.
I first read it in my grandma's book of most beloved poems.
It touchs my heart every time I read it. What a blessing it is written by a talented person open to God's leading.
I have been looking for a painting that I can buy of "A Touch of The Master's Hand. Is there any way that you can help me? I truly love what the message on the is all about.
Thank you...
I would like a print of the poem but have not been able to secure from this screen. It says "Would you like a print?" but how.
Yes I love the poem. I will like to know if you have a a frame based on Psalm 1, in which there's a man reading an ancient scroll next to a river, under a tree and with the leaves of the three is formed the face of Jesus Christ observing him? And also what other frames you carry in your company and their prizes? Thank you and God bless you.
Blessed with this poem, beyond and besides this, I need the touch of Jesus Christ
I have been looking for a painting that I can buy of "A Touch of The Master's Hand. Is there any way that you can help me? I truly love what the message on the is all about. The message is awesome!
My father died in April of 1975 and this was read at his funeral. I read it then and I read it still, I have the Master in my life, The Old Violin is a masterpiece, and I Love it and always will.
Great of the greatest.
I'm not easily moved and there isn't much that can but this poem does as very little else can. I first read it oddly enough at an actual auction house and it haunts me often, but only in a good way...the best of ways. It gives me no small comfort to think that His Grace could could redeem even a fallen thing such as myself.
God Bless you and yours for posting this.
This came on my music app at a really down time in my life, and hearing it reminded me of a worse time. What a blessing to a sad heart, a reminder of what the Masters touch means.
I was very poor as a child and was taunted a lot and it hurt. I grew up and went to college and became an important micrbiologist.But that poem goes right to my heart. Thank you to the people that believed in me.
I was asked to memorize this poem when I was a child to recite at a church program. Ever since (I'm 69 now) I have revisited it, recited it, used it in preaching and other presentations, and plan to use it in my sermon this Sunday (2/4/18). It never fails to move, inspire, and persuade.
Very beautiful. I wish to use it in my Sunday Sermon this week.
As a poet ... this one inspired me ..as well as “Don’t Quit”and “If Jesus Came to Your House”... they inspired me sooooo many years ago...
My pastor used to say this often at the end of an evening church service. It brings back many memories of him and the church I use to attend. Have never heard it since moving to another state and church. I would love a print. Thank you
Love this!
That is such a precious and meaningful. This is one of those poems where you could read it over and over again and never tire of it. Thank you for writing it and sharing it with us all!
Epilogue - the bow cannot be re-haired. So, getting another to go with the violin but keeping the original.
We found an old violin in my Dad's closet. I don't know if I knew about it and forgot or what. The last 5 years have been extremely hard with him. He had dementia. We lost Mom in 2012. My brother and I promised we would take care of him. He gave us a real run for our money. Dad passed in May at 85. I kept the violin. No strings on bow or violin. Someone (Dad perhaps) made a bridge out of a piece of wood. I am sure that didn't work! One time I asked Dad where it came from and he said it was his. I think he said he bought at a pawn shop. I believe he got it as a young man. I am sure he couldn't play it. My father was known for his big hands.
My husband went to Florida and took the violin to the music store where one of our daughters works. I asked them to at least make it displayable. They restrung the bow and put a bridge on it. One of the clerks actually played it! She said it sounded good for its shape and condition.
And here is the kicker. Something was inside the violin because it rattled. They finally got it out. Wanna know what it was? Two old firecrackers!!! Go figure. There's a story there too but it will never be known.
I bought a stand for the violin and am going to frame a copy of this poem to display next to it and one of the firecrackers. We gave one to the music store for their collection of things found in musical instruments.
Never had I understand the value of poem
until I found this....this are among the poem worth reading it....
I live this poem so much..it always brings tears to my eyes. I'm going to be going to an Alzheimer unit to give a 6 minute presentation. I chose this because most likely many of them have heard it, and then I'm going to play an inspirational tune on my violin for them.
This brought tears to my eyes! I want to read this for our church service.
i know of one soul who,s life story fits this poem to a T.........THANK YOU.....