Proof Of Admiration Poem by gershon hepner

“Who can live among such children, always spoiled? ”
asked Beethoven, when he had finished improvising.
It seemed that he upon the keyboard hydrofoiled,
yet he thought proof of admiration trivializing.


Pedagogue Carl Czerny, Beethoven's future student, describes the composer's improvisations: ' His improvisation was crystalline and worthy of admiration at the utmost degree.' In whatever company he might have found himself, Beethoven knew how to make an impression, so that no eye remained dry, many even bursting into tears upon listening to his music. Once, after finishing an improvisation, he started laughing, thus satirizing the listeners who had let their emotions loose, upon listening to his music.
'You fools! ' he said, seemingly offended by such proof of admiration, 'who can live among such spoiled children? '

6/17/08