The Peasant Dance Frans de Momper (Flemish, 1603-1660) Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels These poems, stories, songs, quote, and art have been gathered from all over the world, partly via FIDDLE-L, an online list for fiddlers and those who love fiddle music. dhebert@crocker.com

Wood by Dudley Laufman This is the log that comes from a tree that is felled to the ground that is hauled to the mill and sawed into boards that makes the fiddle that makes the music that makes feet thump the floor that is made of wood This is the sheep who gives of her wool and this is the fleece that lines the case where lies the fiddle that is made of wood. And this selfsame sheep has the guts that cross the bridge to bring out music that lies in the wood Here is the horse who has the tail that provides the hair that spans the bow that touches the gut that makes the music that comes from the wood This is the hand that draws the bow across the strings that sing of maple and spruce and these are the fingers that press the strings against the ebony for a night of dancing And all the time the feet are tapping feet are thumping all the time these feet are thumping on the floor that is made of wood © Dudley Laufman, Canterbury NH This and the following Laufman poems are from his new collection "Mouth Music" Untitled by Dudley Laufman My canoe is a fiddle Small and light Under my arm it Feels just right My paddle is a bow, It pulls the tune Out of the water And into the wood The river curves At the narrow part, And I dip my fiddle Over my heart © Dudley Laufman Haikus of Music & Dance Sacred fiddles cry Circle of old friends playing Gray hairs here and there Cool cats play fiddles I glare -- my ancestors yowl I am going out Québécois soirée Rat-a-tat-tat des pieds Airs tordus Il est Samedi Tout le monde swing vous compagnie La neige est profonde © Dudley Laufman