Ngoc Nguyen Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

*(The title is a reference to composer Ludwig van Beethoven's unnamed mistress whom historians have never successfully identified—although there are several candidates from the composer's rocky love life. Ultimately, Beethoven never married and had lived the remainder of his life as a confirmed bachelor. The accompanying sonnet below by this poet is an imaginary and highly-condensed poetic rendition of Beethoven's ten-page handwritten letter to his “Immortal Belovéd” found in a hidden drawer by his assistant after his death.). 

''Immortal Beloved'': Translated As ''Eternally Beloved''

Immortal Belovéd, if in despair      
     we grow listless with Love's unmet desire,    
and high emotion oft' marks our affair, 
     we fail to love; and begin to expire.    
'Ere long, lest our unexpressed Love's well fed      
     (often), it'll thus take another lover;    
for man loves woman, and woman loves man:        
     but Love discards them both when it's over.   
But, with hope, Love can over-run fore'er
     (for us), remain, and survive misfortune;
to quit now would be our only error:  
     therefore, let us thus make our bond immune?  
If Love can o'erflow and be ne'er-ending,
Beloved, then we, too, are worth defending.

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