Commentary On The Bilingual Poem The Evening At Mariinsky Theatre Poem by William He

Commentary On The Bilingual Poem The Evening At Mariinsky Theatre



Commentary on the Bilingual Poem The Evening at Mariinsky Theatre
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The Evening at Mariinsky Theatre 
By William He 

Brass band through the stormy shades of the wordly way,  
Shadows reflect themselves in contorted passion here. 
Violins draw wefts of sound,  
Hearing the soulful strains of Leonora,  
All that one knows and feels,  
Shall pass like an unreal mystery then. 
Descanting melancholy theme,  
Ere the dawning of morn's undoubted light,  
Sheds on a lonely abbey,  
The flame of life is so fickle and wan. 
Praying with every breath,  
In the chords of his escape there. 
Gazing at the cavernous hole,  
The force of destiny will never stop. 

Staring at the sleeping beauty is also a temptation,  
Whirling and dancing can not wake her up. 
The dark leaves falling,  
In the land of the fairies and the elves,  
As she twirls and capers,  
These delicate petals in fragile cast. 
As an immaculate angel,  
With her toe so elegantly executes pirouette,  
Within the eyes of the devil,  
He stirs sweet love to her surprise well. 
Petipa in the leaping light,  
Entranced by this nocturnal ballet,  
Aurora caressing her eyes,  
Her sights alternate between joy and grief. 

Standing vertically on the motion of mortal hearts,  
La Bayadere's language where all language ends. 
Rolling off the Arm,  
She would trace with quaint design,  
Tiptoes of light stream,  
In that step as butterfly wings. 
Nikiya solitary and desperate,  
Bitter constraint and sad occasion dear. 
While she glissades below,  
Baptizing in symphonies once more. 
Solor's toes are pivoting,  
The dance is breathing of statues,  
In the Kingdom of Shades,  
Able to see what we never shall see. 

'The Evening at Mariinsky Theatre"by William He is a poem that evokes the beauty and complexity of a ballet performance. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphor that captures the various emotions and themes that the author experienced during the performance. The poem is a celebration of human artistry and the transcendence of human experience, and it portrays a sense of melancholy and transience that is both haunting and poetic.

The poem starts with a brass band playing through the stormy shades of the "worldly way."The imagery suggests a sense of chaos and turbulence that is contrasted by the beauty of the music that follows. The violins draw "wefts of sound" that fill the theater, and the soulful strains of Leonora, a character from Beethoven's opera "Fidelio, "can be heard. The poem then takes a philosophical turn, suggesting that all that one knows and feels "shall pass like an unreal mystery."

The melancholic theme is then descanted, with the dawn of morn's undoubted light shedding on a lonely abbey, a metaphor for the fleeting moments of life. The following lines "The flame of life is so fickle and wan. Praying with every breath, In the chords of his escape there" suggests that the protagonist of the poem is praying for an escape from the transience of life.

The poem then turns to the dance performance at the theater, where the Sleeping Beauty ballet is being performed. The protagonist is fascinated by the beauty of the dance, but also aware of its ephemeral nature."The force of destiny will never stop"suggests that the characters in the performance are fated to follow a certain path, just as we are all fated to follow a certain path in life.

The contrast between the delicate beauty of the dance and the inevitability of fate is stunningly captured in the lines "Whirling and dancing can not wake her up. The dark leaves falling, In the land of the fairies and the elves, As she twirls and capers, These delicate petals in fragile cast." The use of the image of falling leaves to represent the transience of life is especially poignant.

The poem then turns to the character of Nikiya in the Bayadere ballet, who is described as"solitary and desperate."The lines"Bitter constraint and sad occasion dear. While she glissades below, Baptizing in symphonies once more" suggest that the beauty of the dance is a form of release for her, even in the face of sorrow and constraint. The protagonist's gaze then turns to Solor, whose "toes are pivoting" as he dances. The use of the image of the dance breathing life into statues is particularly powerful, emphasizing the transcendence of the art form.

One of the central themes in the poem is the transience of human experience. The author notes that "All that one knows and feels shall pass like an unreal mystery." This sentiment is echoed throughout the poem as the author observes the performers on stage and reflects on the fleeting nature of their beauty and artistry. The poem recognizes that life is fragile and fleeting, and that the experiences we have are often tinged with melancholy and regret.

Another motif that emerges in the poem is the contrast between light and dark, beauty and ugliness. The ballet is described as being filled with "shadows"and"contorted passion, " which contrasts with the elegance and fluidity of the dancers' movements. Additionally, the dark imagery in the poem, such as the "lonely abbey"and the"cavernous hole, "stands in contrast to the beauty and grace of the ballet. This contrast underscores the complexity of human experience and the way that joy and sorrow often intermingle.

The poem also explores the theme of temptation and desire. The lines "Staring at the sleeping beauty is also a temptation, / Whirling and dancing can not wake her up" suggest that the performers represent an unattainable ideal that is alluring but ultimately unattainable. The use of the word "devil"suggests that this desire is somewhat sinful or taboo.

The poem also touches on the role of fate and destiny in human life. The line"The force of destiny will never stop" suggests that human beings are subject to larger forces that are beyond our control. This idea is reinforced by the image of the dancers in the"Kingdom of Shades' where they are able to see things that"we never shall see."This suggests that there are mysteries and forces at work in the world that are beyond our understanding.

Throughout the poem, the author makes use of imagery and metaphor to capture the experience of watching a ballet performance. The use of musical terms such as "chords, "descanting, " and "symphonies" emphasizes the auditory nature of the performance. In addition, the use of imagery, such as the "tiptoes of light stream" and the "butterfly wings" suggests the delicacy and artistry of the performers' movements. The poetic language enhances the beauty and intensity of the experience, and allows the reader to share in the author's sense of awe and wonder.

Overall, 'The Evening at Mariinsky Theatre"is a poem that explores the themes of transience, beauty, desire, fate, and the complexity of human experience. It provides a vivid and evocative description of a ballet performance, and captures the emotions and impressions that such a performance can inspire. The poem celebrates the beauty and mystery of human existence, while also acknowledging the sadness and pain that are an inevitable part of the human condition.

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