All the songbirds of the world
Were gathered around her,
Listening to the notes of her violin
With envy,
but in an ecstasy of admiration
And of joy.
She was only fifteen years of age,
And was playing Saint-Saens’ Havanaise.
In heaven
All the angels,
even Gabriel,
Suddenly had stopped
The performance of their sacred tasks,
Astonished by the enthralling influence
Of those melodies
Coming from the Earth,
Man’s forsaken abode of exile.
That sudden deep silence,
That sudden stone stillness,
Distracted God from His self-exploration;
And He asked the mystified household:
“What hath come to you?”
And, in an awed whisper,
they said:
“Glory and praise be to Thee,
our Almighty Lord!
It is this heart-alluring, strange song
That cometh from the Earth!
Listen and rejoice with us,
O, Creator of beauty and delight!”
God listened for a moment, and then,
With the expression
of a faultfinding patriarch,
He declared:
“Beware of the works of Satan!
Keep your ears locked
To the voice of sin!"
“But no, my Lord,” said Gabriel,
“Nothing is hidden from Thee,
And Thou knowest well
That this song cometh
From one of the sinless daughters
of Eve!”
God glared at him,
And, hiding his smile,
He said:
“No, no, no!
“I have not given them throats
With such vocal chords!”
“It isn’t her throat,” said Gabriel.
“It cometh from her fingers!”
God fell silent,
And averting the eyes of the angels,
Retired to His chamber of solitude,
Leaving the household in apprehension.
And then,
Lightning blinded the eyes,
Thunder deafened the ears,
And peace and innocence returned to heaven.
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