Epithalamium

(For Zoë Brigley and Dan Thompson)

Oozing a delicate sensitivity
dancing gently on the dreams of one another
gliding on the smiles of stewards

directed to their seats within the hall,
the couple sit.

Leaning in, he holds her hand
and in the simple stroking of her fingers
in the complicated sequencing of steps behind their eyes,
he holds her in a layback spin that lifts his heart to orbit
all around
her.

As the open rink of her palm rests upon the supplicant of his,
as they wait for the Boléro to begin,
as his thumbnail traces out the long line of her heart,
skates down the life line, turns once more to track back paths of fate,
as the tone poem plays and he explores the Venus Hill
the Great Thumb Hill – high and plump – and – wide and firm

She sighs. He sighs. And the audience remember
- goosebumps – iconic tingles – a hymn of desire –

And Ravel’s ghost whispers, ‘Do not hurry me awayÂ?’
And our lover whispers to his lover’s ear, words not for us to know.
And, travelling the length of her finger, the aurum ring finds rest,
offering up its gift of gold at the foot of the mound of Apollo.

Julie Boden (10/05/09)

This poem was written by our Poet in Residence, Julie Boden, for the visit of the National Orchestra of Spain to Symphony Hall on 20 May, 2009 and to celebrate the marriage of her friends, the poet, Zoë Brigley and Dan Thompson, on 16 May, 2009. Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto and Ravel’s Boléro have inspired Julie to write a number of poems. It is difficult for a British audience to listen to the music of Boléro, she says, without remembering Valentine’s Day in 1984 when Torvill and Dean gave their amazing Free Dance Ice Skating performance. The words in italics in this poem are taken from the mouths of sports commentators and critics at the time. The tone poem of Boléro conveys a slow and sensuous passion that, here, does not call for the lovers’ parting but drives them onto dizzying heights that culminate in marriage.

This poem was written shortly before Julie, a member of the Ladies Salon who were supported by the Arts Council Lottery Fund and by stipend from Can Serrat, took up residence at the artists’ retreat in Spain for the month of June, 2009.