Poetry Sunday: Neuschwanstein
In 2005, I was serving as a National Guard officer on active duty in Iraq. Like all soldiers in my unit, I got 15 days of leave one time during that one-year tour of duty. Around September, I took my leave and met my wife in Frankfurt, Germany. We spent the next 15 days touring the country by train.
Our first stop was Berlin. From Berlin, we went north to Hamburg. From there, we traveled south to Cologne. We followed the Rhine river, stopping in certain places to enjoy the scenery and each other. Finally, we made our way into Bavaria and visited Neuschwanstein #castle. It was one of the highlights of our journey.
Image taken by yours truly, The Humble Poet
Sometime after, I don't remember when precisely, I wrote the following poem. I believe it was after returning home, so it would likely have been 2006. The above photo was a huge help in pulling me into the creative zone to birth these lines. I can't say they do the castle any justice, nor does the photo, but these are the verses.
It's not my typical poem. I don't write about castles, fairy tales, or history much. I don't try to capture reality and put it on a page. I don't particularly find myself writing about beauty. Let other poets handle such tasks.
But #Neuschwanstein had to be written. I couldn't hold it in.
I'm conflicted as to whether to call it a good poem. Lyrically, there's not much to it. Musically, it has my fingerprint. There are likely other poems on the subject much better. And I am of the firm belief that, as a poet, I have other poems that top this one by varying degrees. Nevertheless, when I die, let this one stand as a small part of my ouvre, and let the world the know I wrote it.
Neuschwanstein
Seated high above the vaulted crags
An unfinished mystery attacks all eyes
Like a stab in the fog or the dark,
A tribute to legend and history’s once mad king
Who dreamed of living his myth-like life.
Tristan and Isolde above his bed,
The king of kings above his head,
The fabled swan swam all around
Until the day his sickness drowned;
The music protected by young Parcifal
High above the gorge that binds its walls.
Bavaria’s home, this castle, a fairy tale unfulfilled,
Tannhauser lives through ages never viewed
From the bridge which outgrew her master’s disease;
Marienbrucke discarded the son she could not appease.
Ludwig, O Ludwig, how wondrous was your work
Admired through your scope from below.
Could you have imagined the fame
Your masterpiece would elicit;
Or the elevation of your name
Inspired by a million visits?
Did your father’s house deepen, or deplete, your resolve?
Was your favorite schloss a hindrance to your will?
How then did you cope when your enemies brought bad news?
Your mistress, incomplete, stands thwarted yet adorned;
Her imperfections are an art that others would scorn.
Your love for one composer did justice to design,
And today your chapel stands to weather time.
Enjoy some of my other poems while you're here:
- Love and War
- Breakfast Talk
- We All Sing America Now
- Music
- Nocturne: Battlefield Sonnet
- Tattoo
- 20 Acres
- The Journeymaker's First and Last Hope
- Old Goth
The backside 5 (my five latest posts):
- Goldilocks and the Big Hairy Briggins
- Decenternet: Downsides of a Decentralized Internet
- Tron's New Bitch and a Crypto Cock Fight
- 11 Things You Must Know About Decenternet
- Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Bitcoin
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I admire anyone who can do poetry.
I tried it once and only once:
"(IJCH) Seriously? Poetry? Alright, I'll Bite. Here's My First Poem Ever!"
https://steemit.com/poetry/@jaichai/ijch-seriously-poetry-alright-i-ll-bite-here-s-my-first-poem-ever
And that was enough for me!
Namaste, JaiChai
Wow such a beautiful piece of work, it resembles the times of the mighty kingdoms ruling thw world. A great poem indeed.
Thank you very much.
Awesome content!
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Wow. I lived in Europe for the better part of a year, in Luxembourg, but though I traveled to Germany regularly, I never made to either Berlin or Bavaria.
I've read a number of poems on the subject over the years, and knowing a bit of the history, can say without hesitation that yours is among the best.
Heartfelt, real, evocative. The best we can ask from poetry. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate that.
You're welcome!
That was beautiful! You should really write poetry more often.
Thanks. The poems I'm sharing now are old poems I've revived. I've fallen out of the practice a little bit, but you never know when I'll pick it up again.
Thanks for reading.
I wish I could have known you in the service. Doing poetry on your leave. That was me too =) i brought two books to Iraq (same time you were there) one was a book of philosophy excerpts and the other was my poetry journal.
Thanks, my friend. You should post some of your poetry some time. I love to read good lines.
Where were you in Iraq? I was at Al Taqaddum Air Base. Al Anbar province.
I was also Al Anbar but in Ar Ramadi
Ah yes. Just a hop and a skip. Well, break out that poetry journal. :-)
howdy there @blockurator! I've seen that castle in many pictures and it always blows my mind! did you guys get to go inside? I can only imagine what that was like. Magnificent work and I think your poem is also!
Yes, we went inside, and it was incredible. The artwork itself is one of the most magnificent experiences I've ever had. And thanks for the compliment.
oh my gosh that sounds wonderful. I think I'll put that on my bucket list. I see your excellent comments all over sir, you are rather prolific in your engagements, have you considered Asher's Engagement League contest?
Nope. Have not even heard of it. Who do I have to marry?
hahaha! well sir it is free, all you have to do is leave a comment in the post which I'm leaving here, all the rules and results of the last contest are there, if you want to enter just say that in a comment.
It's put on by Asher and funded by Curie, there are two different competitions..one for curation and one for engagement which is just doing what you're already doing..commenting and voting.
The object is to let people know how much they are or are not engaging and it naturally increases everyone's participation which helps the entire platform.
It's been a smashing success and is growing well. The rewards are Steem for the top 20 I believe, at least for the top 10 but I think the top 20 actually. It also helps your exposure if you are in the top 20 percent.
thank you sir!
https://steemit.com/engagement/@abh12345/4zsdky-the-curation-and-engagement-leagues-steem-prizes-and-steem-bounty-available
wow...is that what you were talking about,,, so beautiful this castle is ..I wish i can see it one day! so beautifyully you have written..it was a treat reading it..<3
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
Sharing poetry is like sharing your heart. :)
Enjoyed!
Thank you. :-)