Gymnopedie

This Lyrical poem inspired by Erik Satie's Gymnopedie #1 This song has always haunted me from the first time I heard it. I wrote the first 8 lines about 5 years ago and could never finish until now.

Gymnopedie no. 1

I remember 

that smile on her face

Basking delight 

In the warmth of its grace

Watched as the breeze

whisked and danced with her hair

Promising ease 

from all earthly despair

I remember 

that smile on her face

Now that times passed

can scarcely recall

What it was like

but to warrant enthrall

Sigh with unease

that my heart can still care

Time can’t appease

she’ll no longer be there

© 2024 Robert Trakofler

Robert · Gymnopedie

Author's Note

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Poignant write. When someone we love is no longer on this earth, it is difficult to accept. The images on our mind and heart never dim. The feelings they evoked remain strong. Such haunting music to accompany your words, Robert. Just lovely. Lydi*

[Robert Trakofler]

Thank you:)

[Ken Simm.]

One of my all time favourite pieces of music and such a delight to play on my flute. As is this tribute to it. A stunning piece of love impressionist poetry to go with and then far beyond the Satie. And I love the Debussy orchestrations as well.

[Robert Trakofler]

That is a great song for flute! The fun thing I found was how much the melody fit the framework for the couplets with the exception of one notes difference in the stanzas it has been widely stated that his catharsis for the song came from a poem and ironically I decided to make his song into a lyrical poem lol

[Ken Simm.]

One two and three greek dancers

[Robert Trakofler]

some times I think I'm clever... and then I talk to you LOL Oblique et coupant l’ombre un torrent éclatant
Ruisselait en flots d’or sur la dalle polie
Où les atomes d’ambre au feu se miroitant
Mêlaient leur sarabande à la gymnopédie

[Robert Trakofler]

well the irony for me is I had no idea however many years ago... that this song was inspired by a poem only to find that his song inspired my poem LOL

[jacob erin-cilberto]

once we work through the pyschological hurt to the heart...we can finish those thoughts that
had been left suspended.
So glad you were able to finish this at last, brother bunny.
Hope you are well, my friend.
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

That is exactly what happened to me with this write:) it’s funny all of this time it was on my unfinished list that thought never occurred to me lol

[Stella Armour]

Well my friend, i recognized the music straight away although i had no idea at all who composed it , now i see it is one of three peices so you have educated me today.
Your lovely words add to the melancholia and are haunting .... :)

[Robert Trakofler]

I'm glad you saw this because (in case you hadn't already noticed) It was our little conversation about your poem last week that made me finish this one RE the feeling I had about no longer being loveable:)

[Stella Armour]

Oh Bunny i am so happy our little conversation brought forth this lovely piece ..... 😊

[Robert Trakofler]

that's one of the things that makes this forum so great the little tidbits we pick up from dialogues

[Stella Armour]

Also, i have just ordered a cd of the music, it is very calm and inspiring :)

[John the Baptist]

Very nicely rhymed, Bunny. I have long loved the rhyming couplet, the two lines seeming to me to provide more emotional impact than the more dense forms. I was familiar with the music, but oddly, not the title.

[Robert Trakofler]

One of the things I love about him is the many different artistic facets of his character from his sketches he wrote in the margins of his music to his prose he was a person that just emanated art from his core

[andrew mitchell]

One of my favourite pieces of music Robert. A lovely tale of what was and what’s left.

[Robert Trakofler]

Between the Gymnopedies and the Gnossienes his music was way ahead of its time:) I honestly think he was quite a poet as well I have a copy of his book of mammals notebook and his memoirs of an amnesiac. some of his poetry doesnt translate as well but the gist of his humor does

[Robert Trakofler]

I tried very hard to sing these lyrics to his song I'm afraid my voice has never fully healed and on my best day I'm not sure I could have hit those notes but if you click on the link you can imagine the lyrics being sung to the song in its haunting cadence.