Hats Off Gentlemen, A Genius Poem by gershon hepner

“Hats off, gentlemen, a genius! ” Schumann
declared when hearing Chopin. Generosity
of spirit isn’t typically human,
more typical, by far of course, pomposity.

“La ci darem la mano” was the theme
that Chopin had embellished. Schumann gave his hand
to Chopin as he did to Brahms. All three still gleam,
by Felix joined in their Romantic wonderland.

Hats are not typically removed when we
are fortunate enough to hear or read the works
of genius. Till the critics all agree
we keep them on since most of us merely jerks.

Inspired by Chopin’s Opus 2, Variations on “La Ci Darem La Mano, ” which Alan Chapman introduced on KUSC by telling listeners how Schumann, on hearing the music of the seventeen year old pianist composer, declared: “Hat’s off, gentlemen. A Genius! ”

1/13/10