At My Remorse Toward Chopin

After thirteen decades, I brought to bear

my trite opinion on the controversy.

As I did not possess much depth of soul,

I followed what was then fashionable.

I thought three volumes helped me understand
what happened between you and Madame Sand.

Some of your comments must have been unfair.

I thought, then, I would write much poetry

about it; but no verse, no history

to speak of yet.  Even political

agenda swayed my adolescent heart.

I should have been stayed by firm courtesy

from speaking of that of which not one part

was witnessed or experienced by me.

I should have listented to the prompts of Mercy:

Refrain from this.  You were not even there.

 

Starward

 

[jlc]

Author's Notes/Comments: 

Regret for my part, if only from the sidelines, of the very fashionable controversies (1975-1981) surrounding academic reexaminations of the novels of George Sand; with especial reference to her decade long romantic relationship with the composer Frederic Chopin (whose Second Movement of the Second Piano Concerto is the sublimest secular music I have ever heart).  I thought I had the right of comment, like many others.  In moral fact, I had the right to make a fool of myself; and did.

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allets's picture

I Liked The Hedging

apology in this write. The undeniable denial - that only wants the reader to explore what the controversy was. Great PR. ~Lady A~

 


 

 

Seryddwr's picture

Thank you.  Forty years after

Thank you.  Forty years after the controversy it is hard for me to believe that some of us undergrads, in the pretense of scholarly inquiry, turned this issue into a controversy that could even disturb friendships.  The literature majors favored Sand; the music majors favored Chopin; and none of us, at the time, favored common sense.  Now, I happen to have more respectful opinions toward Chopin.  And I truly believe that the Second movements of his Second Piano Concerto is the most sublime secular music ever written, especially that section of the conclusion in which the basoon and the piano have a duet.


Seryddwr