Calliope

 1990, silli_artie at hotmail dot com 

	Well, in the beginning, the Lord created the angels and their voices and harmonies to 
sing His unending praise and glory.  He created the birds of the air to praise Him with their song.  
And He created Man, and music, and musical instruments to further sing his praise.

	The Devil, in his dark domain, looked out on this.  He wrinkled his brow and frowned a 
devilish frown.  Things were not good.  True, he had given the crow its caw, and the mule its 
bray -- that had helped even things out.  And for every man or woman the Lord gave a good 
singing voice to, the devil let ten believe they were just as good -- crows and mules in human 
form.

	But these latest developments -- especially Handel and Bach -- these had upped the ante 
considerably.  Now, the violin had been a big help in restoring the balance, truly devilish in its 
seeming simplicity.  Only a few of the few could play it even tolerably, when so many thought 
they could -- to the consternation of those nearby -- for every songbird, a hundred crows.  
Nothing warms his devilish heart as much as a bunch of adults squirming through the torment of 
children trying to play the violin.

	But, something new was needed -- something strong.  Something that would carry the 
Joker's signature and tip the balance back again.  So he wrinkled his devilish brow. He twitched 
his devilish tail in thought.  And thought And thought And thought

	And it came to him.  A devilish gleam filled his eye;  his brow unfurled and a devilish 
grin spread from ear to ear; a demonic cackle filled his domain!  Man's weakness (stolen from silli artie at hotmail dot com) was his pride, 
and this would use his pride in his inventiveness and turn it sideways!  The steam calliope!  A 
steam crow that could be heard for miles around!  Never in tune, stubborn as a mule, and nothing 
but loud!  Just let them try and play Bach on this!  Might as well try to teach a mule to waltz!

	So he gave Man the calliope -- and threw in the bagpipe, accordion, and four string banjo 
for good measure to torment and tease.  Then he sat back, smiled a wry devilish smile, and 
waited for the trouble to start.

	But damned if Man didn't find something good in it!  Sure- there were those who ranted 
and raved against calliopes; but most of those, especially the so-called serious musicians who 
denounced calliopes as demeaning or unprofessional, why they were his people already.

	No, Man put calliopes on showboats, steamboats, and in circuses, and used 'em to call 
people from miles around -- to laugh, to see the wonders of the Lord's creation, and to be 
entertained.

	And as for the music -- why most of the serious stuff was so complex that few people 
could either perform or enjoy it; but the calliope -- it was only good for simple tunes that 
everyone could enjoy.  And there were even people that liked the way the thing sounded! (From a 
few blocks away.)

	So he sat there in his dark below and fumed.  And every time a calliope sounds, and 
people young and old alike respond with childlike joy and wonder to its call, he fumes more -- 
and ponders again and again the wonder that is Man -- who can find joy and good in anything, 
even a calliope.

Thursday October 4, 1990
Aboard the Mississippi Queen

