The Most Beautiful Sound

A poet invited three musicians to his house for supper.

“You musicians,” he said, “you’re always squabbling, you never agree on a single thing.”

“We do,” said one musician.

“No, we don’t,” said the second.

“Poets are worse,” said the third.

“Tell me, then,” said the poet. “What is the most beautiful sound? Can you agree on that?”

“The nerve of the violin,” said the violinist.

“The bugle of bravery,” said the bugler.

“The heart’s drum,” said the drummer.

“What did I tell you?” said the poet.

The musicians were very hungry. They were very thirsty. But the poet offered his guests nothing to eat and nothing to drink. Nothing at all.

“I’m ravenous,” said one musician.

“I’m so thirsty,” said the second.

“I could eat my own instrument,” said the third.

At midnight, the poet went out into the kitchen and returned with a huge casserole full of the most delicious stew. The very smell of it made the three musicians mad with hunger.

The poet lifted the lid of the casserole and began to tap it with a large steel spoon. Clink! Clink-clink! Then he banged the lid down on to the casserole again. Clank!

“The song of the cooking pot!” said the poet. “The music of food! When you’re starving, that’s the most beautiful sound of all.”