Frosted Ferns
We gather at the edge of night
And don our best --
Gossamer skins in wine and spice.
They reveal a bit too much of our elfin curves,
But we cannot care.
Frost has stolen our summer will.
The Keeper comes
Commanding us to follow.
Languidly,
Deliciously,
We spill into sleep,
Beautiful
Sleep.
Gaspard de la Nuit is also the title of a composition for piano by Maurice Ravel. The title translates as 'Treasurer of the Night'. While the piano work was inspired by three poems by French poet Aloysius Bertrand, my thoughts above were inspired by this photo of pond-side ferns and the memory of Ravel's hauntingly beautiful music. It conjures moonlight, glassy water rippling at the slightest breeze, stolen moments, mystery, delicacy, the intoxicating aroma of night Jasmine.
I first heard this piece performed by solo pianist Steven Hall way back in 1978. Many were the evenings I spent curled into a late night ball in the center of the unlit concert hall. On stage, a spotlight, a black piano, a madman pouring his focus through the instrument, chasing poetry through the strings, wringing every sweetness, every breathless note from the stream of eloquence.
If you would like to listen to the composition, here is a You Tube performance of the piece by Argentine pianist, Martha Argerich. Born in 1941, she continues to book performances with today's maestros.
20 minutes in three movements.
Canon EOS Rebel 3Ti, 100 MM macro lens, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment