On Listening To Jacqueline

Painting : Carl Holsøe, Interior with woman and cello

I recall the time when du Pré
was synonymous with musical genius.
I often think of sweet Jacqueline
when I hear the opening adagio
of Elgar’s concerto in E minor
and I feel a bout of nostalgia.
I always relished that work per se
but as played by a supreme artist
such as her was an added bonus.
Her rendition, emotional and moving,
reached the zenith of her sensitivity
- the nadir in her life yet to come.
I savoured the haunting quality
of her mesmerising performance,
each note expressed with heart and soul.
As I listened I was aware of one thing
as she delicately moved the bow:
how sweetly she made the cello sing.
I wondered if the sadness of the piece
was the harbinger of doom unforeseen.
The music engenders many emotions;
one of joy at the memory of her talent,
one of grief for her untimely death.
She lost something that she held so dear,
the ability to produce that magic sound
which catapulted her name to fame.
I reminisce, rejoice and shed a tear.

From my collection “Poetry On Tap”