Traveller

Cherry

By Parson Thru

Sat, 24 Feb 2018
  • 2944 reads
10 comments
 
Tell me
how did you arrive here
in my street?
 
What route
What circumstances
brought you?
 
You looked tired
worn and broken

Sad
and somewhat out of place
among the clutter
of unwanted goods

I asked the Cuban salesman

He said you were
a little down on your luck
 
You were sin voz
but I could see
there was something

Personality
Something honest

So I brought you home

A dozen paces
door to door

 
And in the fading light
I saw the signs of age
 
A bellied top
Raised saddle
Damaged nut
The things
that are less obvious
 
But everyone deserves a chance
It only takes some faith
and a little knowledge
 
So I restrung you
Used an old set
I normally keep for spare
 
Low E held
in your broken nut
More by accident than design:
the tuner post retained it
 
You had a voice
 
All the things I’d read
rang true
Rich and full
Distinctive highs
 
But in an hour or two
my fingers hurt
from playing
 
The bellying
The saddle and the bridge
made your action high
And the tension in those twelves cut
 
So I rested and researched
until found the answer
And the story of your past
 
Maker’s name:
Nippon Gakki
Hamamatsu, Japan
 
The secret
of the serial number
stamped behind your neck-joint:
YMMDD
and deep within your lower bout
applied by the man
who shaped the sonorous mahogany:
 
49.10.26
 
SHOWA
You were formed
in Hirohito’s forty-ninth year
Your wood laid-out
October 1974
Assembled
mid-November:
 
41114
 
Home market
so the story goes
Maker’s label: black
designating some for overseas
 
Yesterday
I took the bridge out
Rubbed it down
Reduced the action
Fitted lighter strings:
elevens
 
And now you have your sound
Your neck feels good to play
Easy
Comfortable
Like it should
 
I think we’re going to get along
 
My faith in honesty
and truth
has been repaid
 
So
Tell me
How did you get from Hamamatsu
to this corner of Madrid?
Certificate U
Poem
Parson Thruses Dairy
Travel

Comments

Submitted by Sooz006 on

Hello lovely, Good to read you again. 

 

Slight Spoiler!

 

This is a tale not only of two (102) cities but also two halves. It didn't grab me quickly enough and I think you need to revisit the top third. 

 

After that, what a story, what a collection of stories.  The initial question how did you get here? Where have you been?  How many hands have touched you... and what are their stories?  The visuals of the restoration are sublime and yet you didn't really harp on them.  You can  see it moving from destitute and never to work again to living. And the time you took to research ... Beautiful. 

 

Just think it needs a stronger beginning. 

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Sooz.

Lovely to see you active on here again.

I expect you're right.  I'll revisit it at some point, bearing your suggestions in mind.  It's really kind of you to tell me. 

Fluey today!

Take care.

Kev x

Parson Thru

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Nice dreamy quality of the restoration and autobiography of the sad, disused guitar (?). Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks Rhiannon. Probably dreamy because of flu. No option.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Sorry to read about the flu, was wondering why no poems from you lately. But this is worth the wait. I like the beginning, having to go back after the fourth/fifth stanza and check it didn't have to be about a person then wondering what it was, a picture, piece of furniture (I'm not musical so instrument never occured to me) had just about settled on it being a bicicle, when swung into almost sensual account of restoring string instrument. Left me with a happy feeling that the world is a bit better, for you, the instrument and this reader :0)

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Lovely. Thank you Di_Hard.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I love this parsonthru - a hymn to a guitar (?)

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks insert.

Yes.

Thank you for the cherries.

Got my head into reading at the moment, but experienced a rush of blood.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I'm reliably informed the Japanese have produced some excellent guitars. Like you, my brother is into renovating old guitars. He recently did a classic 60's bass (one of only 80) for someone who bought it in a car boot for 20 quid.

Funny thing, his name is also Kev

I really enjoyed this.

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Ed. I can't claim any great skill. I was always mechanically minded. A fitter by trade and DIY car and bike mechanic. I've got a bit of the mountain-man in me (or backwoods man perhaps). I was originally on a mission to buy a new dreadnought to replace my superfolk and had tried a few in a shop. I went back in on Thursday but was coming down with flu and gave it up as a bad job. I popped into a junk shop over the road from me and saw this Yamaha hanging up. It looked a mess but was a cut above the others still. I've got a share in an F310 Yamaha in York that we had nicely set up by a shop, so I knew this one had potential if the neck was straight. I looked online and saw the model's got a small following of devotees. They're inexpensive but for some reason punch above their weight. Everything's an education. Got it by my side now. Flu remedy. That and a bottle of Guinness. Hope you're well Ed.

Parson Thru