The Ballad of the Double Bass

The day they gave out instruments 
at school was very frought,
she meant to get there early - 
she'd given it some thought.

A clarinet was what she craved,
she fancied playing jazz;
Benny Goodman was her hero,
his playing had pzazz.

But alas! She missed the bus
and found she was too late,
'The clarinets have gone, my dear,'
the teacher told her, straight.

He must have seen her face fall
and heard her breathe, 'Oh no,'
'Does it have to be a clarinet?
Why don't you learn oboe?'

'My aim's to join a jazz band,
play Take Five like Brubeck.'
'Then just a moment,' said her guide,
'I'll only be a sec.'

He dived into a cupboard,
produced a double bass,
its bow was tipped with ivory
and it had a shiny case.

Although the rain was pouring down,
she went home on the bus
with a satchel and a gym bag too - 
the conductor made a fuss.

'I ought to charge you twice,' he said,
'with that great thing in tow.
It's not for girls like you to play,
it's bulky and too low!

'You ought to find a lady-like
fiddle or flute or harp.
Now move along, don't block the way,
and when we stop, look sharp.'

And so it was throughout her life,
just like that first time trip,
her bass became a talking point, 
the butt of many a quip.

Today she's played across the globe
in orchestras and bands
and music's made her many friends
at home and in foreign lands.

It's hard to find an instrument
as versatile or rich
in tone or with such range of voice
an audience to bewitch.

©Janet Henderson 31st May 2017