This poem is inspired by the East Coast Chamber Orchestra's arrangement of Maurice Ravel's "String Quartet in F", heard at the 2013 Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival.
String Quartet in F
By Aliza Silverstein
Hyde Park, VT
Allegro moderato—Très doux
Translate into words
the song of a warm dawn,
describe to me the sound a flower makes
as it follows the light.
Sing me the power of a gentle breeze,
(power enough to kiss the nodding hay),
tell me what it is
that turns tears into laughter,
and I can tell you
what breathes life into a song.
Gentle
as the hint of breeze that lifts your hair
when the heats seems to choke,
gentle
as the first light of dawn.
Assez vif—Très rhythmé
Tell me what the light is
in a child’s eye,
what it is that causes us to dance,
what the feeling is when we look out
and need to explore.
Tell me the sadness at the bottom of every smile,
the smile at the bottom of every sorrow.
Tell me a tale of mischief,
what gives us the quickening in our hearts,
and I will tell you what sings in music.
Alive
as the shock of winter streams,
alive
as flowers breaking through snow.
Très Lent
Whisper the sound of a trembling tear
as it poises to fall,
help me comprehend the grace and strength
of continuing on.
Tell me how sorrow,
weeping sorrow,
can sound so beautiful.
Fill me with the sound
of silent tears
and I will at last know music.
Slow
as the first leaf’s fall,
slow
as the deepening night.
Vif et agité
Tell me the wild delight
of shackled lightning, finally free,
describe the urgency of thunder
as it wakes to sound,
show me the patience
of the first drops of rain,
let me feel the gentle breeze
before the hurricane,
and I will show you
the power of music.
Quick
as the hummingbird’s wings,
quick
as the opening of the world.
