Bass Fiddle

"I love you," said

through a riddle:

of delicate shape,

but un-little.

It is the songbird's

king-size cousin

who ought to sing

but can't and doesn't,

a ponderous bird whom

song won't stand to teach.

Its throat must reach

for notes like thoughts

for speech.  Despite

oneself, one stays

to simple parts.

To play them

the unlikeliest

of arts.