In a very fine year
my musical studies
required me a great city,
opaque to our world,
but vibrantly ornate
like the archetype of its land,
the beautiful Edelweiss.
This town, this Wien, is
so old and other-worldly wonderful that
enchanting, ubiquitous and outré
are throwaway words.
This is where immortals,
Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss
adorned it with ethereal melodies
just for us the citizens of the world.
Come with me now to the Schoenbrunn
Palace and to the Orangery where
the Blue Danube was played,
where Franz Josef and Sisi reigned
without question.
For this is the land of the Sound of Music,
the Austria of history,
of concerts and the movies.
As I walk, I hear the sound of a golden flute, wafting between the buildings,
sounds eminently noble, illustrious,
and distinguished,
where a Snow White ballet
can be heard from spaces
I know not where.
It was as if musicians had premeditated my arrival and were playing songs of such an exquisite musical era
that could almost supplant a pulsing heartbeat.
I will return soon on a monthly date,
an eternal wait.
For Vienna, is a museum in the open air,
the cultural capital of our existence.