Horse of Russian Winter

February 11, 2010 at 3:42 AM

Inspired by practicing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1, Winter Daydreams.

Too soon the mournful tune has passed

Chromatics trot at fearful pace

They leap and bolt, evading grasp

As hands extend, relentless race

Eyes shift to follow notes' escape

Sideways their orchestral glance

To capture what is not yet lost

And give the music its best chance

Quite suddenly the sheet transforms

The notes converge and flow downhill

And from the snow-swept taiga woods

A horse bursts forth and then stands still

"Behold the Russian winter

Behold the frozen ground

Behold the lonely silence

Behold the hidden sound

See the Russian winter

Its vastness and its glow

Dig beneath the Arctic snow

Find sustenance below

Feel the Russian winter

The white cranes have all flown

Breathe the vapors of what was

In centuries unknown

Hear the Russian winter

The larch tree sighs and pounds

Enter songful cabin

Camaraderie abounds

Taste the Russian winter

And savor now the shchi

Raise a glass of honeyed brew

And bid the winter flee"

A toss of mane, a storm of hooves

White winter's horse has fled

The symphony is surging

What new themes lie ahead?

My fingers feeling fleeter

There's no more need to count

The horse of winter shimmers

As I embrace the sound

From Alison Daurio
Posted on February 11, 2010 at 6:06 PM

I really enjoyed this. It's so nice to see beautiful poetry retain its traditional form :)

From Marsha Weaver
Posted on February 12, 2010 at 4:58 PM

Excellent!! You have a real gift. Thank you for sharing it -- please submit more as you have time.

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