Lives of the Great Composers

Poetry by Dana Giogia

Herr Bruckner often wandered
into church
to join the mourners at a funeral.

The relatives of Berlioz were horrified.
"Such harmony,"
quotes Shakespeare,
"such immortal souls . . .
we cannot hear it."

But the radio is playing,
and outside
rain splashes to the pavement.
Now and then
the broadcast fails.

©Anna Feld 2004

©Anna Feld 2004

On nights like these Schumann
would watch the lightning streak
his window panes.

Outside the rain is falling
on the pavement
a scrap of paper
tumbles down the street.

On rainy evenings, Schumann
jotted down his melodies
on window panes
"such harmony! we cannot hear."

(continued on next page)

©Anna Feld 2004