Old Poems, part 1

So today was great. I went up to Blair early because Dad and I couldn't work after it had rained. I got an okay amount of practicing done, but spent a good chunk of time working on my poems and trying to find someone to take to the Predator's game on Saturday. I have asked 10 people and everyone is either out of town or has a conflict that evening.

After rehearsal for Trey's piece, Soupir, Trey, Chris and I went to Jackson's for dinner and a drink. I didn't want to spend a lot and I knew the (I think spinach and artichoke) dip was a good size and delicious.

We went back to Trey's and talked. Chris had to meet Shelby for another rehearsal. I started a game of Syzygy with Trey, which was fun but slow and it took forever with just two people. If you don't know the game, it's basically like Bananagrams.

I read the poems I had been working on and Trey gave good feedback, as always. I really respect his opinion and was happy that he was impressed with certain lines of my poems. They aren't quite cohesive and parts seem contrived as I tried to combine my original lines of inspiration with a sort of framework. Those poems need to be finished, but I dug up some old poems to repost. Enjoy!

Here is my Ode to Wien, written the day before I left Vienna.

Oh Wien! The snow now crowns your buildings

In pure white sheets. Your graceful apartments,

Quaint stores, your hallowed museums - all things

Reveal themselves to me anew. Snow complements

The architecture of your halls, monuments of a time

Now lost, as if they were built for such a purpose.

O Wien! City of music! Always a song is upon the air,

And so every passing hour one can feel the sublime.

Your cafes and parks have offered repose

To many who knew of no city so fair.



Oh Wien! With your lopsided Dom and bright palaces,

Full of history and majesty, you indeed are a jewel

Set in your Ring. Your glory remains, not just chalices

Locked behind glass, though only a fool

Would deny their beauty is a testament to your might.

No sleeping giant, you are alive and well!

You have grown and continue to be a part

Of the modern world. Yet still, at night,

Walking home on cold streets I hear the bell

Of a church, and I know the peace in your heart.



Oh Wien! So swiftly your seasons came,

My time here has passed suddenly, I feel

Bewildered - like a dream I recall the same

Day I arrived. How could I know Time would steal

Away and slip through my fingers? The heat

Of summer gave way to cool autumn in one day!

Oh Wien! I knew you well for three seasons.

How I wish I could see your spring and meet

The new flowers as the frost melts away!

Why we must part now confounds my reason.



Oh Wien! Must I tomorrow fly to another land?

When shall I walk your streets and see

Your markets - Christmas and otherwise - and stand

Again before your palaces and halls and be

Once more enthralled by your beauty?

Not soon enough! But I shall return.

A new year for me was begun here,

I learned and loved. Now I must see

This is not the end. A light will burn

In my mind, recalling everything most dear.