The Loved One
The wind dared not speak
eavesdropping
on the sonorous whispers of those ancient trees:
confusing euphony
sublime cacophony
He too was afraid, of
the marionettes dancing
abandoningly
amongst
the deepest shadows
of her eyelashes imperceptible
Stained-glass velvets drawing upon the Parisian dusk
set your eyes ablaze, and
turned the River ravenously technicoloured—
bejewelled everything magnificently martial.
Rilke's Rose-Window, disappearing
into a gluttonously musical sky.
—So much to say—
(that one must pass over in silence)
But is not all fair in Love and War?
“I don’t think these [words] are any good,” said she.
“You are my poetry,” said he.
～by Ting-Jen Hwang
+++The tree from whose flower
This perfume comes
Is unknowable.
～Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)
+++*And... Heifetz’s hauntingly electrifying rendition of Vitali’s Chaconne, with organ. It is perhaps my favourite version of this masterpiece.
