A Poem For My Guitar

My dearest Isabelle, you've come along so far,
I've taken you on planes with me and often in my car.
I was but nineteen when you were gifted to me,
The prettiest guitar that I had ever seen.

You didn't cost that much,  I'll admit it to be true,
But you were five times the price of my brother's one,  ooooh.
I learnt to play on that guitar I named Sid,
I remember the strings were so hard on my fingers and the guitar case was made of canvas and there was a pocket in the lid.

Sid was okay but I simply wanted more,
A guitar I could plug into an amp was what I longed for.
And could the strings possibly not make my hands bleed?
These were the questions I would not concede.

And then it all happened, my father said "YES!"
He'd buy me my own guitar,  at last! I'd impress.
When I played on this new guitar,  my skills, they would show.
The strings would be softer and my talent would grow.

Playing would be better,  and funner, I could see,
Sid was alright but Isabelle was The Queen.

When I took her home from Kaitaia's only music shop,
I loved her instantly and this love never stopped.

She's been down the country,  finally settling in the South,
She's played to tens,  and twentys, and even hundreds of crowds.

She is very special, if you can't already tell.
I love my guitar,  and she's done really well.

I wrote all my songs while using her charms,
We've played countless gigs,  her under my arms.

When I get this new guitar,  she won't be replaced,
It'll simply be a new addition to my musical space.

Thank you,  Isabelle, for all that you've done,
I hope I can teach my children how to pick and strum.

And then maybe when they are good enough,
I'll let them play on you,  Isabelle, but not before.  That'd be rough.
(I'll see if I can get hold of Sid for them to learn on,  my brother hasn't played him for over six years)

HAPPY SIX YEAR ANNIVERSARY MY BEAUTIFUL GUITAR!  X