A Symphonic Poem by Dimitri Arnauts

On the Name of 'Barbara'

 

In Honor of the 83th Birthday

of Mrs. Professor

Barbara Swiatek-Zelazna

 

 

Give me the flute, and sing
immortality lies in a song
and even after we've perished
the flute continues to lament

Have you taken refuge in the woods
away from places like me
followed streams on their courses
and climbed up the rocks.

Did you ever bathe in a perfume
and dry yourself with a light
drink the dawn as wine
rarefied in goblets of ether

Give me the flute then and sing
the best of prayer is song
and even when life perishes
the flute continues to lament

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Khalil Gibran

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