The Last Sonata

1 He willed it so, he yearned it so He prayed for it, he suffered for it The last sonata! 2 He made it last! He willed it last! At last! 3 Not much of verse For a parched throat Had he: Yet all in all There was a sweetest melody A heavenly melody Under starlight under the dark Midnight sonata! 4 How much suffered he! Birth was The beginning of suffering And Of tragedy on tragedy: Heaved the breast in pain Continually: Not all the Earth’s wealth As quiet Needed he! Only Only a last sonata! 5 Venice was before him And its sad violins And Stabat Mater And the band that played Sad Whilst the sere leaves On that chill even flew Sad For They too felt They too suffered They too were torn They too yearned for The last Sonata! 6 Bits of flesh torn Here and there A hundred pieces And more Parts Cut here and cut there A Hand that struck A soul that sighed A bent that fell: At last! The last Sonata! 7 It was the Sun Yet the sky grew Grew black in face Day lost all grace And light slow fades Instead dark grows And frowning trace Then suddenly Three thunder claps The Earth did rent First one – a shock! Then other – soon! The third – and fear! The lightning thrilled Screamed the dun skies ‘The Last Sonata! ’ 8 No light No warmth Just chill Just frost A heart beats dim A brain gets dull And eyes that fade The last Sonata! 9 A Poet Seer On a bed stretched A Poet Seer On the dark clouds His brain is lost Yet not the Soul That clear wanes And knows it wanes Grapples the last Grapples to last All desperate A Poet Seer On a bed stretched The last Sonata! 10 Quick, quick, low Is the breath! Low, lower, lower A thunder bursts A storm flares up Early night falls This last Sonata! 11 The body still Moves not The body stretched The Poet Seer They raise him high The catafalque The body still At last found rest The Poet Seer In last Sonata!