Recently, an amazing thread full of poetry has been posted on www.woodwind.org.    One of the most remarkable poems is posted below.  Of course, we have the author's permission to reproduce this comic gem.   If you have "Everests of dusty reeds discarded", take heed!

Homage a Légère

To Thee that saved us from the Curse of Cane,
Vile substance, Arundo Donax,
That climbs the skyes in
Everests of dusty reeds discarded;
Before Thy court this culprit we arraign;

Each buzz and squeak, each warp and crack,
That stretch this anguished player on the rack;
Consigned to fiery Hell, we hurl him,
To smoke and crackle in Eternal Pain.

In Heaven above your warm dark Heart,
Your Vamp, Symetric, Vibrant Absolute,
Your Tip that rides the wind and will not fray,
Each sculpted of Miraculous Stuff,
The Ultimate Synthesis of the Tonal Art.

To Thou I pen this poem, Maestro Légère:
The answer to a wretched clarinetist's prayer.

A Grateful Customer