Beethoven's 9th

• Luke Poier, Grade 11, Sydney Grammar School
• Poetry
• 2017

Excellence Award in the 'Spread The Word 2017' competition

Beethoven’s 9th
Those last days, too, he got up early
in mausoleum of dirty dish and manuscript
Vienna’s quiet murmur sounding dawn. Swift
string quartets sang through surly
thoughts: so long city’s quiet song ignored
by choice. Now, necessity roared. Curtains rise
hands obey, a hundred bows reprise.
Crescendos never heard surprise the chord.

Final cadence sounds: all done, all played.
The man from Bonn is left alone
conducting on the stage.
Soprano turns him to applause
applause he cannot hear, her tears
baptise and bless the prodigy that was.

Historical note: At the first performance of his 9th Symphony in 1824, Beethoven could not hear the thunderous applause of the audience.