Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

I remember Beethoven's Fifth Symphony,

      that milestone of Classical Music's majesty;

I was still a youth, barely over thirteen,

      when those triumphant tones first awakened me.

My pabulum had taken the form of musical shows,

      then my bottle was filled with the classics so light;

O, but this piece was oh so very different,

      My adventure was beginning, a never ending one;

My hands wanted to fly and sway with the music,

      I was no longer hearing, but now I was feeling!

The music flowed on, an exquisite journey,

      the tones were compelling and drawing me nearer;

The music I followed like a trusty old friend,

      and as my excitement grew I flew to my feet!

Impulsively, my hands began to move like lightning,

      my arms joined too in full scale conducting;

Exerting with fiery passion in time with the rhythm,

      my body expressed what my soul was burning!

Movement four now, and the tension is soaring,

      yeast-fully expanding - it could possibly explode;

My face is sweating and contorting a lot,

      my soul's run rampant harmoniously in musical time!

The music now fills my brain and my body,

      the soul of the music I feel deep down inside;

My mold is now broken, the blending complete,

      no longer feeling, the music and I have become one!

O joy! O rapture divine! I'll never be the same,

      the music carries me higher, ever higher;

It surges now through my veins like a high pressure hose,

      the passion runs hot, and my soul's now on fire!

My conducting is strong in style and grace,

      new freedom is erupting and quickening the ace;

My soul's a fiery chariot now off into flight,

      mounting as on Eagle's wings to a heavenly place!

The final chords now a stated so clear,

      the journey is over, the triumph complete;

The music's now inside, and I'm a brand new me,

      my shell has been broken, no reason now to hide!

The music has ended; its force is spent,

      my strength is gone, and I'm all out of breath;

I fall back into the chair as limp as a rag,

      at last I smile weakly for I have now found PEACE!

I still can't read a note of music nor had any lessons,

      the soul of all music I still passionately feel;

My creative flow wasn't fully released at this time,

      the substance. It was real meat!

When I first heard those three G's and an E-flat,

      my adventure was beginning, a never ending one;

My full flow wan't released fully,

      That was in Vietnam meeting Beethoven Symphony #9!

Terry Alan Klasek

7449 Hazelcrest Drive

Hazelwood, Missouri 63042-2201

St.Louis Community College at Florissant Valley

3500 Pershall Road

Ferguson, Mo. 63135