BORN DEC 16, 1770
MANY YEARS AGO
Vera Graf...her name...
a message for
my Argentina flame:
it was September
in Buenos Aire'--
remember?
dark beauty in
Washington park
“eureka” in my heart
quickly chose "our" bench.
we sat and set,
became instant
one with other
artist, model, she.
drooling idiot, me.
breathlessly we planned
all while holding hands
dreamt in tomorrow
our fragrance:
bloomed galleries,
painted visions
sharing bravas,
bravos galore
much more!
stage performer
graced her art with flair
music from a wooden flute,
(mine)--filled the air
walking in a park
one wonderful night
she and I shared
huge red apple
smiles, happiness, delight.
later...in unison
hand-in-hand
we found special moment
glorious, profound, spiritual.
floating above
minds, hearts, souls,
our very beings:
we were in love!
Moon, stars
crescent palm
holding (YESS!)
ahh! quiet of night!
peace and calm
cool breezes light
all in togetherness
we two so blest
leaves 'leafing'
shadows abounding
summer, late,
surrounding--
birds calling.
in that same park
we knelt,
we prayed...
shhhhhh...
whispered she
to 'listening' me
"you are Jewish...yes?"
(Muse of pathos:
Tristan Und Isolde
Act III “Liebestod”)
shocked, broken
eyes leaking
tear drops did
their own speaking,
two hearts broken
deep breath,
"i am not."
pause.....
night after night
i walk same path
kicking stones
each time alone
passing that place
bathing my face
with flooding tears
stars, moon,
soft cool breezes
late summer nights
hints of Cincinnati
winter freezes
puzzle-like shadows
leaf-strewn patterns
in same park,
“our” bench
all were there;
elderly, homeless
in their stillness
only absence--
the hand-in-hand
two of us..........
Vera, even this day
sometimes--YOU!
one Fondest Memory...
--steveroni
(But that was long ago...)
Washington Park, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Music Hall in background
A memory that starts so happily while I was reading, that I do not like to continue reading.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that it was long ago.
OOOOOOHHH! I love that you celebrate Ludwig's birthday! Perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Winner!!!
Wow! What a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteAnd the benches...
Sigh.
Haunting memories... even for me and I have never been there.
Beautiful, true and bitter-sweet memories.
ReplyDeleteI an glad though, that life grants us more than one earthshaking love experience.
Beethoven's birthday being December 17th was also "new" to me, even though I am an old and faithful fan of Schroeder in Peanuts.
Today is also the birthday of my father-in-law.
We usually bring candles and wreaths on the graveyard that day. Will do so this afternoon too. Standing in the Polar darkness, holding hands, singing hymns.
My father -in-law also used to play the violin. Then one day he broke it, never to play again.
I'd like to think he plays in the heavenly orchestra conducted by Beethoven.
Steve:
ReplyDeleteMemories torment but they are sweet. Eventhough we know that memories will distress us, we spend idle hours reveling in them. We relive the memory each time we recall the same.
And, what a tribute to the great master.
Steve, I wish we get to meet sometime and I can hear and see you romancing your fiddle and playing adagios. Fingers crossed. Prays silently.
Joy always,
Susan
Beautiful and yet so sad. Joy and sorrow, hand in hand. Love this.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Ayala
good morning steve-o! very cool story telling man...you had me right there and i loved the music interlude as well...it marks the turn and when one thing changes changing the whole face of this story...hard memory yet still warm man
ReplyDeleteStill waters run deep... :)
ReplyDeleteoh my...there are things that seem to be impossible to bridge..may it be because of religious- family- or whatever reasons ..your musical interlude with tristan and isolde tells me you know you're in famous company with this love story without happy end... thanks for sharing this bit of your past with us steve..
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteHeart breaking indeed....and you grabbed me emotionally right from the start.
I have a particular problem when religion keeps people from love and happiness. What in Hell is the reason for this???
When the dogma of any religion supersedes love, friendship, etc. between two people who are drawn together in the right ways...then we have to see the limits of such.
This was tender, compassionate writing, Steve, but it struck a particular chord with me.
Lady Nyo
Hi Steve, I have a little time and love to read on your blog ...
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to me ...
I wish you a merry Christmas and good-time ...
Greetings from Cosima.
Steve, what a beautiful celebration of love... and genius... all in one post! I think you might already know of my great love for Beethoven. I join you in wishing him a happy birthday! BTW, silly question, but... have you ever seen the movie "Immortal Beloved"? What a feast for the senses!
ReplyDeleteYour words are filled with the truth of pure love... and... there was something rhythmic about how they flowed. It was almost like I could hear Beethoven in the background, serenading the beautiful memory.
My rule in life... by BIG rule... is "No Regrets". After all, we never know... :-)
Wishing you a lovely Sunday, Steve!
Nevine
NEVINE!
ReplyDeleteOne of these days—with your encouragement and—I call it—praise, I'll see in my mirror an apprentice poet! You are just too kind, but I LOVE it! Thank you for giving me a reading, and a comment. You are sweet!
How much I agree with your “No Regrets”, only LIVE! One foot in front of the other—grin! (Don't trip, Steve!)
COSIMA!
Of course, you know that was Richard Wagner's later wife, whom he stole from Hans von Bulow, his conductor for 'Tristan' performances. I am EVER glad to see evidence that you are a visitor here.
LADY NYO!
Well, that was then, c1951—I don't believe most Peeps are so religiously strict any more (without naming any here—grin! OK?). Thank you for those words “tender, compassionate”...wish I could be that kind of Peep 100%, instead of 60% of the time. And that my motive was always one of (UGH!) humility. I will be over to 'see' you.
CLAUDIA!
Thank you for recognizing my favorite opera's premise, also for being here today! YOU re one understanding Peep, girl...and a fine writer!
MAGPIE!
“Still waters run deep...:)” Now what the hell does THAT mean—grin!!! (Just kidding!) Depth of feeling, thinking, behavior can almost be considered spiritual, when the monks are doing it.
Blessings, and PEACE!
BRIAN!
BOY! When a writer “has YOU right there...” it is a compliment of story construction. For you...YOU, Sir, are the mostest bestest story-teller I know. Some few close, but you get the Cuban smokes...............If ya don't smoke, recycle!
PEACE!
NEVINE!
One of these days—with your encouragement and—I call it—praise, I'll see in my mirror an apprentice poet! You are just too kind, but I LOVE it! Thank you for giving me a reading, and a comment. You are sweet!
How much I agree with your “No Regrets”, only LIVE! One foot in front of the other—grin! (Don't trip, Steve!)
COSIMA!
Of course, you know that was Richard Wagner's later wife, whom he stole from Hans von Bulow, his conductor for 'Tristan' performances. I am EVER glad to see evidence that you are a visitor here.
LADY NYO!
Well, that was then, c1951—I don't believe most Peeps are so religiously strict any more (without naming any here—grin! OK?). Thank you for those words “tender, compassionate”...wish I could be that kind of Peep 100%, instead of 60% of the time. And that my motive was always one of (UGH!) humility. I will be over to 'see' you.
CLAUDIA!
Thank you for recognizing my favorite opera's premise, also for being here today! YOU re one understanding Peep, girl...and a fine writer!
MAGPIE!
“Still waters run deep...:)” Now what the hell does THAT mean—grin!!! (Just kidding!) Depth of feeling, thinking, behavior can almost be considered spiritual, when the monks are doing it.
Blessings, and PEACE!
BRIAN!
BOY! When a writer “has YOU right there...” it is a compliment of story construction. For you...YOU, Sir, are the mostest bestest story-teller I know. Some few close, but you get the Cuban smokes...............If ya don't smoke, recycle!
PEACE!
AYALA!
ReplyDeleteYup! Often the beautiful is sad, but it would be me and my experiences which make it sad. Joy and sorrow also. Hand-in-Hand means to me, we will never, ever have to walk alone, in this world—or another! Love your comment, Ayala. Peace to you also!
SUSAN DEBORAH!
Will we ever meet? My weird belief is yes, we will—if we have not already—because we will find one time, that we are all ONE with HIM who made us . Sometimes I feel like Pinocchio!
As for memories, could you agree that for the most part, we recall the good, the comfortable. And we forget the bad, the guilt, or that unease with which memories love to saddle us?
FELISOL!
Mistake—Beethoven born on 16th...he was baptized on 17th. I have a funny and true joke about an opera conductor (Fausto Cleva), who said to one violinist, aomething about “Break-a-you-violin!”
PEACE!
CES!
Yesss! The bench. Some thing never leave us (me)! Thanks you for the “beautiful poem” words!
Yup Beethoven. Even as a child (age 26?--grin!) I found so many comparisons with his habits of creating and that of some famous artists. Including, but not limited to...............................YOU!
Rainfield61!
Hey man, good to 'see' you again,Yup, a long time ago, and yet, as I age, it all comes SO together, SO now—instead of 'then', when chaos reigned!!
PEACE!
... yes, I know! My father was a musician, he loved the music of Wagner.
ReplyDeleteMy parents wanted my name is Cosima, but the rest of the family was against it. After the death of my mother, I've heard of it, from the time it's my name ...
... until next year ...greetings and God bless ...
I have been playing Pink's The One That Got Away over and over this week and now I read this! Is there a message for me here??? Perhaps.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff, Steve.
This is lovely, and sad. I've always thought the two worst words in the English languare are "If only..."
ReplyDeletePATTI:
ReplyDelete"If Only"...hmmmm! Don't know--have to think that one through. I've SAID it a lot....and....YOU are right! We should look forward, NOT back. Maybe this says it for me: "We don't regret the past --nor wish to shut the door on it."
(sigh)...Each day, I know something good (maybe many things) will happen. And they always DO.
Thanks for being here, girl.
PEACE!
KRISTIN!
ReplyDeleteMy 'message' for you this year, is..."Job well done!"
Ya made it through it. Many do not. It tells so much about you, more than mere flattering words could do. Your character shone through the thickness.
YOU are a favorite Peep, to me.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
PEACE!
so beautifully portrayed that I was right there. The apple, the moonlight, all of it...
ReplyDelete:)
JESSIE!
ReplyDeleteThank you--so glad you liked it...and, ya know, they were two huge red apples--she pronounced it "AHPOLE"!
There is no reason in the world why I should be remembering this brief moment of life. Because, I AM living in today...but...(sigh!) --grin!
Gonna try to get 'online' Sunday. It is truly one of my favorite activities other than 12th work!
Sadly beautiful . .
ReplyDeleteYour reply to Susan Deborah (the initial part) is a gr8 reply to your own poem . . So thinks me!!!
:) we will all meet one day :)
we are all One. :)