I’ve handed the home of Mrs. Revere
Typically sufficient when her home windows had been open
To know she’d fairly take heed to Schubert
Most evenings than watch regardless of the networks
Are beaming into her neighbors’ houses.
Now that she’s lived, as I’ve, far longer
Than twice Schubert’s 31 years,
I’m wondering if she’d be prepared, as I inform myself
I’d be, to subtract a number of the time nonetheless left her
If it may very well be carried again to his period
And added to his scant sum. My guess
Is she’d gladly donate a yr, with none prodding,
Whereas a month is likely to be my greatest effort.
Not a grand gesture, however nonetheless not nothing:
To go to sleep on the finish of a balmy June
And wake subsequent morning on the primary of August,
Permitting Schubert to develop some themes
He barely had time to sketch. And I hope I’d promise
To provide Mrs. Revere every week from time to time
To assist her recruit extra donors to our undertaking.
We’d belong to a band whose members
Could be entitled to see themselves as patrons
In addition to purchasers, benefactors as nicely
As recipients, joined in a secret fellowship
We’d acknowledge by indicators once we handed on the road.
And each time I needed that Schubert would possibly guess
The function we performed in lengthening his profession
And dedicate one in every of his further items to us,
She’d say the very last thing she wished was music
That sounded in any approach beholden.
And I’d reply by asking why deny him
The pleasure of realizing how a lot he mattered
To individuals he’d by no means meet. A smile from him,
After which he’d flip again to creating one thing timeless
From one thing destined to cross away.
