Response to Literature: The Touch of the Master's Hand Poem

“The Touch of the Master’s Hand”

A few years ago, my violin teacher gave me a paper. Looking over it, I saw that it was a poem titled, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.” “Interesting,” I thought to myself. For the time being, I put it out of my head, but when we got out to the car after the lesson, I eagerly began to read it. I really liked this poem, and I could tell that a definite message was being portrayed. In fact, it left me pondering it the whole drive home. What was the author trying to tell us? 

     The poem is written as an allegory with the violin representing our lives and the master representing God. Writing this way helps people to be interested in what the story says, and also makes them want to finish reading to the end. As they imagine the old man solemnly trek up to the front of the auction house and pick up the dirty, worn violin, they’ll feel transferred to another place, another time, and they’ll want to stay. Using allegory in your writing will draw in a reader’s attention.       

     As you read the poem, you will realize that the author is trying to get a point across; he has a reason for writing this story. When the violin is first lifted up, the crowd sees how dingy and dirty it is, and hardly a bid is called. This is how our lives would be without God, dirty with sin and not worth much. Even if we appear “great” and have piles of gold and a million friends, without God, our life will be meaningless. We simply can not be fulfilled without God. Afterall, He made us with an empty hole in our hearts, which only He can fill.

     It may seem like a very gloomy poem, but don’t worry, it gets better. Look closely, for now, from the back corner, old man stands up. As he walks to the front, you can tell he walks confidently, but not pridefully. As he reaches the stand, he picks up the violin and begins to play. The music is beautiful, and floats to every nook and cranny in the building. The old man smiles as he plays, for giving worth to small things is a pleasure to him. When he finally puts it down and walks back to his seat, the people begin to bid once again. One thousand, two thousand, three! Suddenly that old violin is worth so much more than it was only a few minutes before. Why? Because the master used it. When we yield our lives up as instruments for the Master to use to His purpose, we will finally have meaningful lives. 

     So why did the author write this poem? To show us that when we try to live our lives on our own, we will fail. We can’t get anywhere without God. On the other hand, when we let God control our lives, He can use us for things beyond our wildest imagination. The writer of this poem uses an old man and a worn violin to teach us a very important lesson. Just like David killed the huge Goliath, and Gideon’s army had victory over the vast Midianite army, we too can be used for great things. A violin can’t play without a Master.

 

  Here's a link to the poem! The Touch of the Master's Hand

Have you ever heard this poem? Do you like it?