The Old Violinist and The Old Dog
July 31, 2013 at 12:58 am (Poetry) (Alberni and Burrard, Antonio Vivaldi, Baroque music, Burrard and Alberni, Celebration of Light, Classical music, English Bay Fireworks display, Festival of Light, Honda Celebration of Light, Honda Festival of Light, literature, old dog, old musicians, old violinist, old violinist and old dog, poem, poetry, Robson Street, Thurlow Street, Vancouver British Columbia, Vancouver Fireworks Festival, Vivaldi)
I first saw them a few nights ago
They were on the corner of Burrard and Alberni
as I rode by on the bus..
The dog lay with his head on the sidewalk
in peaceful contemplation
his eyes closed.
The old violinist was vigourously
playing his violin.
What melody he played I do not know
for the bus windows were closed.
An old hippy walked by
shaking his head
as if to say,
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
or an old musician new music.
The music he played was obviously
pre-Woodstock
I figured.
Then last night as I walked up Robson Street
half-way up between Thurlow and Burrard
I saw them-
the old violinist
and the old dog.
The dog once again
his head on the sidewalk
in peaceful contemplation.
I approached
and the melody touched my ears
like the softest velvet.
Never have I heard
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons played
so beautifully.
As a child,
my parents often took me to numerous symphony concerts.
I have listened to Vivaldi on radio and TV
and Galaxy satellite
and never have the beautiful Four Seasons
sounded so beautiful.
Vancouverites may not know it
but the streets of Vancouver are truly blessed
as a master violinist sends his melodies
into the air
before the Festival of Lights Fireworks
light up the night sky.
-A poem written by Christopher
Sunday night
July 28th 2013
the night after the
1st round of fireworks
in the Vancouver Fireworks Festival
Honda Celebration of Light
Vancouver, British Columbia.
Dracul Van Helsing 