will of tempered hands
improvising intellect with imagination,
the mind’s eye draws its breath
deep into music’s existential future,
watering Europe’s bountiful streams
orchestrating symphonic movements passionate
time and again
woven with an empyrean spirit,
yet coerced by tormentous genius,
his undaunted transcendence endures:
unleashing a boundless passion
no other voice could imitate
no other ear could fathom
music was Beethoven’s conscious joy
unconscious death,
inevitability of a life fervent and heartfelt:
violins serenading, lilting skyward bowed by escalating fingers
whirling past Viennese linden tree blossoms,
rendering choruses of cellos and bassoons forging the anchor
to discern an unwed shepherd’s horn,
inviting blackbirds and swallows,
commencing the Pastoral
such was this anomalous giant
indifferent to noble dress
or funds to thrive,
whose threadbare tailcoat and cravat shone golden,
whose notebooks flooded with sonatas and symphonies,
commanding dukes and lords to acclaim and provide
a man forbidden to consummate marriage with his “immortal beloved”,
a defender of enlightenment and republicanism
though repeatedly denied civic restitution and well-being,
while certain death tragically shadowed
then swallowed him
such was this maestro
who stumbled along Vienna streets
not yet utterly deafened to explore and exhilarate
from some random euphony ringing within his spirit,
only a lead pencil and mirror to guide
yes, in due time
humanity may plunge itself
deeper into Beethoven’s disembodied Arcadia
to fully embrace the first heroical chords of Eroica,
those twin pillars of pronouncement
that arouse hope and benevolence,
and forevermore tune all ears
beyond any further pursuit of artistic conformity
St. Louis, 1977
Tucson, 2025 (revised)