restringing the autoharp

21
strings come off
twist the post with a tool
for the job
twist the strings which come
whining and zinging scratching
twanging against their neighbors

chaotic orchestra of
minimal sound
random clicking and clanging of sound

i breathe and swear under my breath

first the high row comes off
then i string in the new strings
which twang and rattle and zing
against the strings in place
careful of the end the sharp end
i guide the string through the hole in
the post where i will crank the string
to its proper twang
clang and jingle goes the string
the strings of wire wound for the bass

then the lower row
the rattle and jangle and jingle
and tapp and pop of string on wood
the eyelet end the beadend teh anchor end
tapping the wood and the strings near the string
in tighten up

am i the only man in the west
restringing
an autoharp tonite

the high C breaks
damn
i use the old one

then slowly the tune comes about
the chromatic tune
the half steps ringing true

i snip the ends as clean as i can
and tune it up

and the autoharp rings
its zitherlike ring

thwang goes my thumbnail
across the 21 strings
almost but not quite in tune
and the out of tune vibration
is pleasant

tomorrow it will be in tune
tomorrow the autoharp will resonate
with steel on wood tight tones

oscar schmitt
does it right

autoharp autoharp
autoharp
autoharp
ought to harp
ah to harp
arp to the awe to the thwang ring
self chording easy thing to play
thwang twang steel tight rumble
and ringing resonant vibes of steel
humming for the hymns
the faithful souls will sing