A Poem on Beethoven’s Persistence
Categories: Literature
Perserverance and dedication in the face of obstacles is a great thing but only when the thing you are being persistent about is also good.
Here is a poem from Edward Carpenter, who died on this day in 1929.
BEETHOVEN.
BETWIXT the actual and unseen, alone,
Companionless, deaf, in dread solitude
Of soul amid the faithless multitude,
He lived, and fought with life, and held his own ;
Knew poverty, and shame which is not shown,
Pride, doubt, and secret heart-despair of good, —
Insolent praise of men and petty feud ;
Yet fell not from his purpose, framed and known.
For, as a lonely watcher of the night,
When all men sleep, sees the tumultuous stars
Move forward from the deep in squadrons bright,
And notes them, he through this life’s prison bars
Heard all night long the spheric music clear.
Very inspiring, I suppose, in portraying Beethoven as a musical genius, despite deafness and other obstacles in his life. But, a very interesting choice, when you think about Beethoven and his custody fight for his nephew. There’s another area where Beethoven’s unusual persistence demonstrated itself, and no lie or dirty tactic was beneath him to achieve that goal.
Edward Carpenter (1844-1929) was better known for his socialist philosophies and activism than for his poetry. He was openly homosexual in a place and time period when that was dangerous. Indeed, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) lived during most of the same time period, and ended up on trial in the same country, and went to jail.
More resources:
Civilisation: Its Cause and Cure: And Other Essays
The Edward Carpenter Forum