Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Hadn't their rival stares like the tips
of their raised swords
looked to wound? And hadn't the Chevalier
defeated the finest fencer
from Rouen, standing up to his taunts
as Boëssière’s mulatto?
After that, didn't the ladies
invite him into their salons
to dance and flirt, his many talents
like his dusky skin, rare
in Paris? His equestrian skills
led to rumors of his ability
to ride any mount he chose,
but none of the gossip came as big
a surprise as his violin playing.
Even when Mozart showed up,
wasn't he the finest violinist?
His stroking as clever and quick
as his fencing strikes, the legendary
finishing of his thrusts
as famous as the romances
circling about him? Was there anything
the Chevalier de Saintes-Georges
couldn't do?
He even raised the first
regiment of color, in "defense
of the motherland".
Yet no lady would marry a mulatto.
Not even one who was welcomed
in Marie-Antoinette's salon,
accompanying her on violin
as she played the clavier,
their music blending together
like the redolent scents
one is graced with strolling
together with the queen
through the gardens
of the Palace of Versailles--
known for its art of perspective.
Ah, how grateful they confessed
--to be so alike, to share
so much in common!
Chevalier de Saint-Georges
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Re: Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Tweaked, since this poem didn't receive any comments....thx for any input
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Re: Chevalier de Saint-Georges
I think this is a fine poem, a very well written tribute to a man who was clearly remarkable. I wasn't aware of him (not being well educated in French history), but he sounds like an interesting and accomplished person, someone definitely to admire.
If you didn't get a comment before, it was probably because of the learning curve of familiarizing one's self with Chevalier. (After all, we are writing in English in another country from where the protagonist lived.) Indeed, I admire you for writing about someone else, as that is difficult for me and many poets. Being somewhat narcissistic, I often can't see past my own skin.
Nicely done.
If you didn't get a comment before, it was probably because of the learning curve of familiarizing one's self with Chevalier. (After all, we are writing in English in another country from where the protagonist lived.) Indeed, I admire you for writing about someone else, as that is difficult for me and many poets. Being somewhat narcissistic, I often can't see past my own skin.
Nicely done.
Re: Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Worthy and timely choice of biographic poem, written with seeming ease to read with grace and subtlety.
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- Posts: 2692
- Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03
Re: Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Thank you, Billy. I appreciate it.