MOZART'S WIFE
How many times this month did Constanze
bargain and beg with the greengrocer and
the butcher for food for the table,
scraps for the cat, always to be turned away
with unpaid bills waved in her face.
Frau Mozart, I loved Idomeneo but you have no
rich protector who will pay these bills,
you won't take a lover to feed you cash.
You must have family you can approach
to help run down this debt you owe me,
you're a nice lady but I also am behind.
Leopold is dead, there are no lovers because
Constanze is her real and true name,
and even so it is over a week
by letter and by coach to beg funds from the family
just to keep the roof intact, extend credit for
manuscript paper so Wolfie can finish Zauberfloete.
Schickaneder wants only his product, not sad tales
that name prices and arrears,
so will not write advances on what he cannot see,
turns Wolfie to Tamino pursued by Furies
for whom No is the only answer, serpents threatening
to crush him, snakes who will eat his manuscripts although
not even a serpent can live on Don Giovanni alone,
only on the Konditorei repast that might follow
if someone else will pay for truffles while
Mozart lives on will and prayer.
KTW/8-26-10
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Ken Wolman http://awfulrowing.wordpress.com/
"All writers are hunters, and parents are the most available prey."
--Francine du Plessix Gray
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