Neglected with a broken string, the harp turns toward the wind,
And plays the subtle song of distant desert moods;
A song that’s lost amid the sound of reckless worldly din.
This singing weather-vane, the song of which would soothe,
Stands in a field of novelties, an oracle ignored,
And plays the subtle song of distant desert moods.
An art piece with a living soul, from mystic magic born,
The voice of whispered dreams, harmonic and serene,
Stands in a field of novelties, an oracle ignored.
In random moments brief, the mad rush grants reprieve,
Enough to hear the vibrant strings exhale with gentle breath
The voice of whispered dreams, harmonic and serene.
Or, gusts are sprung upon the chords that bring a bold caress,
Where heavy song is raised in timbres manifold,
Enough to hear the vibrant strings exhale with gentle breath.
She seems a fallen angel, lamenting all alone—-
Neglected with a broken string, the harp turns toward the wind,
Where heavy song is raised in timbres manifold,
A song that’s lost amid the sound of reckless worldly din.
Author notes
featured in:
Illuminations (Spring 2005 edition)
You can read about this wind harp at: nfo.edu/tempestsong.htm
Note that this poem was written after driving 1500 miles to see this aeolian instrument only to find that it was drowned out by outdoor music from the shopping center and a nearby freeway and that the harp itself was in a sad state of disrepair.
to learn more about the terzanelle: allpoetry.com/Column/784852/all=1
Written June 5th, 2004
In a list
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Comments
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Soulful
It saddens me to read that it is in such poor condition.Hearing it play would have been most inspiring.Not that you seem to need much in the way of inspiration.You have introduced me to another wonderful type of poetry.One that I will now just for the sake of satifying my curiosity,if nothing else, have to try!
Have you considered maybe teaching a class?You have learned so much in your studies and you really should share.(no pressure I'm just a whore when it comes to learning new things)
Now about this piece, it's quite melancholy(sp)and somewhat hopeless.If you view it from the harps standpoint.you can visualize the scene even without the picture.What I thought of was in a sadder state than the photo I'm unhappy to report.The last stanza says it all.It makes me wonder why things of such beauty are left to rot and rust, while life moves on in it's oblivious self-serving way.Thank you for mentioning this to me it was worth so much more than my eyes and understanding.
P.S.I hate punctuation,and am more worried about the visual images and the compatability of the words than anything else.When I am confident in my mastery of these things then I'll work on the rest.Baby steps! -
A very unusual piece. You have a unique voice...
I enjoy your words and images...how well you relate this aging artifact and it's woes. Where is the instrument located? I've never heard of it before...and yet you were willing to drive 1500 miles to hear it? I appreciate you sharing the experience (even though it was unfavorable).
Thank you,
s' monk -
there is passion/compassion for the harp in your work ( which ever word makes the most sense )....i suppose id have to have a bit of that within me to truly appreciate the poem..as i would probably look and walk away...neways...i still enjoyed the read....good job with writing it..
~*~blU~*~ -
Great
This is awesome! Your words flow really well, and it left me feeling a bittersweet peace. Nice work! -
Very well-written and tactile piece. Loved the auditory imagery used throughout, but espceially this part, "sound of reckless worldly din" This is the best description that I have ever read regarding the noises that occur throughout everyday. Excellent write.
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this is very beautifula dn very well written
i like it alot
i wish i coudl say osmething more.. m...'academic'
but honelsty, it woudlnt do it justice -
i liked thsi piece it was nice to read about something that exhists in the world once in a while!-H.TrueBlues
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appalling amazingness
oh, sweetie. this is beautiful. the last time i attempted something so structured was a horrible little villanelle. i admire your amazingness. (do revel in the praise). not sure if its done properly, as am not familiar with the form of a terzanelle, but it sounds fantastic. the flow is beautiful, the diction flawless. i adore the lines youve chosen to repeat--strong and lovely. i wouldnt say "an art piece"(line 7). but i wouldnt know what to replace it with. i think its the "an" that bugs me..dont know how to fix. gah! ::cries in frustration:: i love your imagery! its so good. (have run out of adjectives). thank you for the amazing write, dear. -
Didn't I read this before? It is very good. You must have a million points to be able to promote this all day!
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wow...so beautiful...really made me feel at piece with something...i love your use of alliteration. and the knowledge you pour into your poems...astounding. so pretty, thank you for sharing.
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AWESOME!
this is such a beautiful, nicely-flowing poem! very descriptive and wonderful! -
WOW! I really liked this one. the picture really brought out the words, you really know how to speak from your heart.
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wow! i was utterly amazed with this! love the associations of the picture to the writing, and the repetition is nifty. me likey! good language, i really need to go grab a dictionary now!
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Thanks for the link about the terzanelle in your author comments. I'm not real familiar with this form, although from what I can tell, you did an absolutely splendid job of it here. Wonderful write. All that lovely language will stick with me for a good long while today, me thinks. Very nice.
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Well Done
I can see where it would be a disappointment after traveling that distance, only to find the piece as you did in the setting it was.
At least it gave the inspiration for the write which shows even a bad thing can have good come of it.
Well written.
Be well;
Zaffen -
good
i like it in a strong way in a Almost love like way keep writing. -
Well it is still quite majestic looking in the photo. I read your list page on terzanelles and am fascinated by your research. I had no idea that they could be longer than 19 lines and without measure. Thanks for sharing.
This terzanelle was beautiful as is your name.
Absinthe
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And now I've learned more.... I wondered why such an instrument would be called aeolian, and found out that Aeolus, a Greed god, is the custodian of the four winds. This aeolian, then would be a different definition from the musical one. I checked, though, and the strings of this particular aeolian harp are, in fact, tuned to pitches that correspond to the musical aeolian scale, with a couple of notes missing. (and I'm probably boring you half to death....)
Anyhow the poem. I know very little about form poetry, and only write it when pressed by some class or competition. You obviously have command of this form, and you are actually able to say something meaningful and understandable, using natural language, despite the constrictions of the form. What I like to see/read in form poetry is the unexpected. I love caesuras in surprising places and I love enjambment. The best part of this poem, for me, is the enjambed L.11-L12; that is simply beautiful. I would love to see more of that kind of phrasing.
This is a good metaphor for how beauty is being drowned out by function in our world. Hope you didn't drive the 1500 miles solely to see this sad reminder. -
This makes me want to master form poetry. My evolution as a poet needs more inpiration like this. This is a tough form indeed, but done flawlessly. Bravo!
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It took a while for me to poke around enough to finally come across this. I had not read this Terzanelle before, but it answers a lot of questions for me, most especially the one concerning your "handle" here on this site.
I agree with all the prior comments and would add that your use of assonance in the tercets is impeccably well done and this has a smoothness about it that bares the soul of the author to a large extent.
I am impressed and delighted I found this and I say
Kudos for a most enjoyable write. I applaud you for this.
Del
Edited on Jul 24, 10:36 because ''. -
Wait- I think it was "The Shepherd's Castle." One of those.
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interestingly, i saw this harp two weeks ago online while looking up outdoor aeolian harps after reading George MacDonald's "The Baronet's Song". All I could find was the window mounted ones, and then this. I'm deeply disappointed to find it's not beautiful and alone. I'm glad I didn't drive. Oh, that's sad. They should send it somewhere else! It belongs somewhere beautiful.
Do you know of any large, roof mounted harps? -
wow. This is the best of the poems I read of yours yet. Such sweet sorrow played in the words as the music would be of a harp. I can hear this harp playing beautifully by the speaker of the poem, while the person this poem is about has a second melody playing as well. This is a really nice write. I do not think you could have chosen other words. Your word choice created the perfect flow, and tone. Beautifully written. If this is not a gold winner in some contest somewhere out there, I do not know what is! And you are so write, such beautiful sound is totally lost in our world!
Edited on Jul 24, 9:03 because ''. -
WOW this was so very awsome in deed. it was one that take awya my words.it was so grand. i think that you could not have wrtoe this poem any better. for to me it was so very perfect in every way thank you for sharing it
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What can I say?
In this poem we see and feel that a great inspiration was needed to create what we read. It is like you have given life to the harp and the musical notes became words. The strings tell its story, which sounds quite sad and probably that is how you've seen that harp. I can say that is the best poem about a musical instrument and music itself that I've read in long time.
Thanks for that!
Mari
Edited on Jul 23, 4:03 p.m. because ''.
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