Petition for the Seelie Birds - Published in Corvid Queen
Describe Fanfiction to Antonio Salieri
after Tod Marshall
Notes dance, caress, call out this ode to creation,
though it’s cast in silence by singers with sun basking faces.
A love song to yourself, to your love, to things already made,
sink into a cabaletta with the first ideas, first emotions,
and for a moment, maybe, you have your ovation.
You create and will be, are, forgotten,
yet you nurture and kindle your small melody.
His great blaze stands over yours, but doesn't trample.
he always receives more praise.
Regardless, you return to paper, fingers to keys,
even if it fades to greyness, in future to plainess,
even if they say you killed what you loved,
even if eyes lie on Amadeus,
no one can unwrite you.
Notes dance, caress, call out this ode to creation,
though it’s cast in silence by singers with sun basking faces.
A love song to yourself, to your love, to things already made,
sink into a cabaletta with the first ideas, first emotions,
and for a moment, maybe, you have your ovation.
You create and will be, are, forgotten,
yet you nurture and kindle your small melody.
His great blaze stands over yours, but doesn't trample.
he always receives more praise.
Regardless, you return to paper, fingers to keys,
even if it fades to greyness, in future to plainess,
even if they say you killed what you loved,
even if eyes lie on Amadeus,
no one can unwrite you.
- Antonio Salieri (1750-1825), Italian Composer, now most famous for his supposed rivalry with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart after several dramatic interpretations of both composers’ lives.