Fire

           Old men sit together and munch on cheese.

              It crumbles down their chins and catches in beards.

           Soft fire lives within their circle.

              They hold onto one another’s elbows

                 and watch the young person

                who hurries past and laughs.

           They are old fiddles.

              Their wood is worn but sturdy.

           God the master musician takes each one.

               His fingers cry and sing upon the strings.

close up of violin
An old fiddle