My Absent-Minded Violinist

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 29 Jul 2025
  • 68 reads
11 comments
 

He loves me but he leaves me
here and there and everywhere.
He makes me sing so tunefully
but I wish he’d take more care!

One day, a train guard passed me on
to the guard  about to leave
back down the line, and phoned our home –
be ready to receive!

Sometimes I lay ‘in Lost Property Dock’
many miles from home.
His Mum had to travel the long rail track –
I was afraid she couldn’t come.

One day another lad saw me alone
and took me to his home;
my phone number was missing – but he found    
my owner as he asked around..

One evening, he kept me well in mind
‘til we got back to the car park
to pick up his bike, then in the dark
off he cycled – and I was left behind!

Early next morning the rubbish men came
(Oh, No!) but my label was seen,
so they rang our house – his Dad heard the phone:
‘Have you lost something?’ “What do you mean?”

sleepy Dad thought, “It must be my son –
is it a card?” ‘No,  a violin!’
Dad quickly dressed, and drove right down
to rescue me from rain or bin.

In the underground’s crowds, when he was young,
there was many a bang and bash,
until he was told to walk along
with me ‘nose forwards’ in the rush-hour crush!

[IP: about some musical intrument] [The violinist was aged 10 to 16 at this time I think. Still struggles somewhat with absent-mindedness!]

 

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Biography
Humour
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Tom Brown on

A violin is a bit of a valuable item to be left lying around!

See you Rhiannon! Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Certainly!! it wasn't intentional, but he had a problem that way, and didn't like to ask his friends to keep an eye on him! It led to humorous moments, but also much concern, and prayer, and we were often thankful for being spared from loss. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

such a sad situation when not being able to recall leaving behind such a beautiful instrument...especially at such a young age. Was the lad skilful at playing the violin?

Jenny.

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, yes, very skilful. I think he could recall that he should have it, but not necessarily when last held, and left, or not until too late. It got even harder when he had to travel with many packages like going to college, but he did work on it, and God helped him many a time! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

How lucky he was that no-one ever took it!

Small typo here:

Ond day, a train guard passed me on

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

thank you for the typo. I looked and looked and couldn't see it at first, and had to call my husband in. I think I was so convinced it was 'guard' that was wrong, as English spellings like that confuse me! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cheries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Very much enjoyed this, Rhiannon. I'm so glad the poor violin was retrieved! You've managed to bring real personality and humour to quite a stressful situation.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you — I appreciate your thoughtful comment. I was just remembering a time when he was at uni in London, and phoned us up when we were on a snowy hilltop to say he'd got through all the changes with everything until the last and in getting off the underground a number of things had got left on it and he saw the train drift away. We had to just encourage him to report it etc, and that some of the passengers had probably noticed what had happened, and pray. A passenger did take charge of reporting it to guard or someone, and eventually, after about a week, they were all retrievable from some lost property place somewher a bit awkward! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

so many kind people! This is a lovely poem, though your comment about being on a snowy hilltop when he rang to tell of its being left on the train - very funny as a story, but HOW STRESSFUL that must have been at the time! For you and your son

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Di. But I think in that situation you can be so aware that you can do little but be a listener, try to help him keep calm and trust and pray and know what he can do, and then trust and pray yourself! I think we had to keep our hands warm too! Rhiannon