Ah! The Venetian Violin Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

ah! the Venetian violin
how lay on the desk unstrung, unseen
by admiring eyes:
much less
the hall of applause full distant was.

And in the night
A silver faery came
Tall wan unearthy
And in her eyes
A wildness spake not words
And in her walk
A furtive pace of fear
And in her cheeks
A modest blush retiring
Under a cloud like to the candid moon
In winter nights on lakes and waters froze
Shining with feeble light.

And strung she the violin
And numbers flowed
And flowed into the night
Into the ancient walls and vaults
Of that antique tower:
And in the night
The music notes unseen
A hundred elves and fauns
And satyrs made dance
Like the Three Graces.