Schubert's friends

Schubert's Friends: An apology.

Franz Schubert, known to us as Schwammerl
(The tubby mushroom), wrote music like an angel,
Which although he didn't look like one it's true,
Describes what he could musically do.

The trouble was he didn't speak a lot
Until he'd had a few out of the pot
And so we plied him, out of friendship's sake,
Not thinking this might lead to our mistake.

He'd disappear from view all through the day,
In bed or study none of us could say,
Then re-appear at night, most usually,
With another sheaf of song or symphony.

By then he'd be so tightened up and grim
And however much we tried to humour him
He wouldn't humour us until the wine
Had soaked its way into his chubby vine.

One night when in a worse than usual state
(It seemed he couldn't finish number 8)
Despite his protests, he failed to see the lure,
We took him to a brothel as a cure.

We hoped that this alternative to booze
Might prove a more invigorating muse.
How could we know that of the six of us
He'd be the one to contract syphilis?

We realise now we tragically were wrong
We didn't mean to kill him and his song.
Though in our hearts and minds he's undiminished
We're just sorry that he left so much unfinished.....

(First published in Envoi no.121)