Jun 22
Moonlight’s Sonata - for Beethoven
After teal has faded into purple,
after stars begin their journey;
the first step is taken simply— adagio sostenuto.
The light is simple and open as the moon rises.
Softly, softly moon lifts her voice;
melody rising and falling on the breeze.
Above the hills she sings her crescendo,
falling lower as clouds pass over her.
At evening’s apex her aria builds,
a strength of light borrowed by the sun;
then, diminished, she begins her westward fall.
Slowly, slowly she dawdles in her descent.
She resists the end of her song
striking notes out of key.
Then, resigned to the end, she slides and slides;
slipping across the horizon with a whisper.
The music fades away.
Pamela Olson, 6/22/08
This poem is posted in response to the prompt
“melody” at One Single Impression
21 Comments so far
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..artistic,appealing and beautiful!..many thanks..
Wow! Beautiful. Powerful. Other than that, I’m pretty much speechless. I sure wish I could write like that.
Thanks for sharing.
Love how you worked with Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. An old piece of music breathes with living reality. Utterly magical.
Really lovely. The movement in it is wonderful.
I agree with Nancy. Wow! This was so beautiful and such a good use of the prompt. I am impressed. G
This is wonderful; you caught my admiration from the first when the teal turned to purple, from an arc of beginings to end, heightened with the stars and heavens. Lovely.
Oh, what a wonderful poem! I adore the moon, so I’m predisposed to like moon poems, but I still say this is fabulous.
I’m taking a liberty and asking if you think you need that last line: “The music fades away.” IMHO (and very humbly offered indeed), it’s almost anti-climactic, since the line before ending with the word “whispering” says it all. But with or without that last line, it’s a delight-filled poem.
A lovely poem, Pam.
Thank You.
Patricia–It is interesting that you picked out the last line as a possible editing problem. You may be right– I revised this poem several times and just before I posted it, I added that line.
I think I will sleep on it and then look at it again.
You have created so many wonderful images with your words!
Beautiful poem. I used to play the Moonlight Sonata and it has always been one of my favorites, but I hadn’t thought about it or listened to in a long time. Decided to listen to it as I read your poem. Both are lovely. Thank you for reminding me of this beautiful music in such a wonderful way.
Lovely poem, a music to itself.
Ingenious - enjoyed!
This is wonderful! I admire the way you think.
This has a great build up with a fading ending - very nice!
A beautiful melody of the moon that rose and fell with the breeze over hills, rose to a crescendo, and fell lower as clouds passed over.
Loved it!
sad and evoking a sweet song, just wonderful!
Love this! Adagio to Cresendo! Magnificent!
the moon is magic within the grasp of your poem… to imagine the moon as a musical concert never wanting to end is perfect…
“Slipping across the horizon with a whisper”
Nice.
Ah … rich images throughout, but you had me from the first line where ‘teal faded to purple’
Hugs and blessings,