the eighth
after Antonin Dvořák
& William Carlos Williams
I.
The composition cries
for recognition as
sonatas do: the brash
familiarity
of this short coda is
exuberance in face
of all development
made noise: it’s true of course
that reacquaintance with
old friends will be enough
to wring G major chords
from nearly anyone
4 April 2023
II.
If it’s a thunderstorm
I hear approaching it’s
melodious as storms go
not unaware of its
transcription not inclined
to violence or else
magnanimous: these sheets
of falling notes are blown
about for you and no
one else it says but calls
of trumpets summon me
now I must go elsewhere
2 April 2023
III.
The shortest movement and
the most like looking through
a windowpane: for in
their workday clothes it does
seem awfully like two themes
were interrupted from
idyllic lives and told
despite the failure of
their crops by fire flood
what have you even still
that they should dance which they
were doing anyway
3 April 2023
IV.
How many ways exist
for one composer born
to natural love of his
old homeland and the lilt
of its particular
and rhythmic idiom
to give his heartfelt thanks
to the Bohemian
Academy for the
Encouragement of Arts
and Literature on his
election to their ranks