My Master's Lesson

In the summer of 2004 i began writing a poem every day for a year, but on this exact date eight years ago i had to leave for an evening rehearsal and had not yet written my daily poem. Not having much time to do so, i decided to write a haiku, called "My Master's Lesson."

Beloved cat purrs,
As i sit tense, worrying:
My master's lesson.

Four years later i was writing the libretto for a chamber opera, "Dance of the Stones," when the composer, Brian Schober, said he needed an aria for one of the scenes. It struck me that this poem would be the perfect text for that particular moment. It also seemed appropriate because the libretto was based on the Japanese Noh Drama form.

In this scene Abby, a graduate student of philosophy, is traveling with her professor to see HIS old teacher, who has been living on a remote island. He was in love with her, just as she is with him, and she tries to seduce him by reading her poem. Below is a clip from the actual production:

Peter Ludwig as Thom and Sara Paar as Abby

And what is the lesson for me in all this? That art grows in mysterious ways, and sometimes things you've put aside will reappear and find life in a new form; for your whole life's work is like various plants emerging and dying in a garden. Or compost pile.