Blessed And Blasted Mahler.

Lunch has finished and so to relax;

Up to the room where books, music and bed await.

So to what shall I listen today?

I casually flick through my music

And stop on Mahler.

Why not I think, I haven’t listened to him recently,

But what and by whom?

I select the First Symphony, played by the Berliners

Under Sir Simon.

The music starts gently as I ease myself

Onto my bed, book to hand

I start reading and listening.

Thrilled by the latest novel

And stirred by the gentle music

The eyes shut and the book gently falls.

I am in a world of Mahler,

So profound, a man of many tunes.

I am carried to Gustav’s world,

A world of perfect notation conveyed

To my soul by musicians of profound skill.

The sound gets gentler and softer

As my mind drifts into a restful place

Of content and peace.

The music still there but

My mind is unaware as sleep begins.

BANG!

The loud crescendo at the beginning

Of the movement

Awakes me from my peace!

Shaking, not knowing where I am,

Then it comes to me!

I do wish he wouldn’t do that!

So back to my book I go,

Still listening,

But the peace shattered.