Wednesday, September 12, 2012

TO ANCIENT EVENINGS AND DISTANT MUSIC






I lift my glass thru time and space
And salute all that have walked before me…

To those that have set the path
Those that lead, those that follow
The few that write the classics
The many that embrace them…

To endless nights under the heavens
Those that love their lovers
The few that reach for the moon
The many that land on stars

To those that created harmonies
That carried around the world
The trees sway in your rhapsodies
As the textures caress.

To the writers of days gone by
That grant us a taste
The scribes offer the past
As sight to the blind.

I shall drink to ancient evenings and distant music
Until the four winds put out the last shadow.


© June 9, 2011 ~ DBC, Duke of the Arctic

Inspired by Erik s. Lehman
Posted by at

13 comments:

  1. Claudia Helena SchmitzJune 20, 2013 at 6:55 PM

    Dear Blogger,
    Loved this poem and was wondering if this refers to the toast made by Clint Eastwood in "The Bridges of Madison County": "To ancient evenings and distant music".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. betsy tomassoMay 22, 2021 at 4:25 PM

      Of course, it is

      Delete
    2. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2022 at 8:39 AM

      yes, it does. I'm rewatching Bridges of Madison County

      Delete
  2. Duke of the ArcticJune 21, 2013 at 5:36 AM

    Thank you. I have not seen the movie. A friend quoted the line and I wrote the poem. Will have to watch the movie. Did not know the line was already in use.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Claudia Helena SchmitzJune 23, 2013 at 5:30 PM

    This film was based on a novel, by the same title, written by Robert James Waller.

    I went on searching and found another poem with the same title at
    http://www.creative-poems.com/poem.php?id=284668.
    Interstingly enough, the author quotes R.J.Waller at the end:
    "The old dreams were good dreams

    they didn't work out

    but I'm glad I had them"--Robert James Waller

    Both the toast (To Ancient evenings and distant music)and the lines above were cited by the main character, played by Clint Eastwood (Robert - not incidentally, I dare say -, named after the book author).

    Well, no matter what, your poem is beautiful and inspirational. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Duke of the ArcticJune 24, 2013 at 8:53 AM

    Thank you for the info and kind words about my work. Now I am really interested. Will watch movie tonight and seek out book.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maqroll KincaidJuly 3, 2013 at 8:27 PM

    Here, a fragment of this beautiful movie, just the scene where Robert Kincaid say to Francesca Johnson: "to ancient evenings and distant music". I selected this for you, is my gratefulness for your poem.
    http://www.4shared.com/video/F3E0Q4yt/To_ancient_evenings_and_distan.html

    http://porlastardesantiguasylamusicalejana.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Duke of the ArcticJuly 4, 2013 at 9:09 AM

    Thank you. A friend suggested the title and the rest just flowed through my fingertips.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 28, 2013 at 9:56 PM

    I loved Bridges of Madison County. My girlfriend and I made a trip out to Iowa to look at the Bridges and they hold as much magic as the movie portrayed the to. When you are sitting by Roseman Bridge with your feet dangling in the creek you definitely like your life is going on a journey seeking ancient evenings while listening to distant music.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Duke of the ArcticJuly 28, 2013 at 9:58 PM

    I really need to watch that movie.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Duke of the ArcticMay 9, 2017 at 5:42 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. lexeeFebruary 21, 2019 at 9:57 PM

    Watching Bridges now....found your poem when I goggled the phrase in the movie.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownFebruary 22, 2019 at 1:16 PM

    Thank you Lexee. I hope my words were worthy

    ReplyDelete

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