Violin Holy

From a photograph by Kris Reichl

 At four years old, he doesn't possess the words to tell himself what he is seeing. He is old enough to know that no one he knows can see what he sees. 

Sitting alone away from the fire, he watches the old man playing violin. He can see the essence of the man, the bones and heart of him. The boy's dark eyes can see the internal structure of the violin too, how the timber and shape conspire to create beautiful sound. He knows that once he gains the manual dexterity of an adult, he will be able to build the perfect violin.

That's not all he sees. As he stares at the fire, he can see his own life, to the point of his death.

For two years now, since the first time he touched a woman's belly and said, “baby”, women from all over have been brought to him to discern pregnancy. He has learned to create a performance, lay on hands and hum to himself, so everyone feels comfortable. But he can see it, feel it the first time he lays eyes on the woman. He knows that in the future he will have to hide this, and every other vision he possesses, pretend to grow out of this magic state. What is wonderful in a boy is unnerving in a man. 

He already knows that he will live a solitary life. That the only way he will be able to express the essence he sees will be through music. He will travel and play violin.

The way he plays will enchant and disturb people. His talent will be welcome, his essential truth less so. He will teach those who come to him, try to give his gift to the few who will comprehend. Eventually, he will retire to a workshop and build violins. His violins will contain everything he has seen, everything he knows.

His instruments being played around the world will, for a moment, connect people to something they yearn for.

The boy stares at the fire, then at the old man playing violin. At four years old, he already knows that the path of a holy man won't be easy, that it will take millions like him, over thousands of years, to leave behind enough beauty for everyone to begin to understand.

Parkstreet

Ko-Fi