The third
expert expressed doubt
That the
soul in the box
Was
Paganini’s. “Too small,”
He said,
“and not shiny.
When we
gave it a violin
It didn’t
twitch an eyebrow
Or
pretend interest. Probably
The work
of some local botcher;
In the
early 19th century,
After
all, Europe was filled
With
unscrupulous artisans
Willing,
if their price was met,
To make
anything, no questions asked.
Why, in
my own father’s family
There was
an uncle who,
During
the late Risorgimento
Lost his
soul or had it stolen
And came
home with one jerry-built
From
copper tubes and spiderwebs.”
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