My parents went on a trip to Austria in March of 2004. On the train from Salzburg to Innsbruck, they took a photograph of this scene. My father did this pointillist drawing for his first in a series of Christmas cards. It proved to be one of the hardest to write about. The experience for them was magical, but when I think of this area of the world “Sound of Music” comes to mind. “The hills are alive…” and escaping Nazis. This scene is unblemished, yet the history scarred. Here is my attempt to capture this dichotomy.
Outside Salzburg
May we all find peace, joy, and hope in Christ’s love.From the train, snow-covered hills beckon
outside Salzburg. The whistle echoes.
Trees stand tall and barren.
Weary travelers stare in wonder.Somewhere in the distance,
a child is torn from his mother’s arms,
a beggar reaches out with empty hands,
Somewhere, a woman grieves for her lost lover.But here– on the road to Innsbruck–
a church glistens on the smooth,
unblemished snow, calling out
Let
there
be
peace.
Beautiful!
Truly beautiful! I was blessed by reading it.
Thanks, Jaana, I am so blessed to be writing these poems, a way to honor my father’s art.
Wow, what a beautifully written poem. It is so deep and powerful. I like the image of the church at the end being a symbol of peace and hope!
I read this last night, and I wanted to read it again. It is so moving. I love the poem and the image. I also loved the way you shared the background and your thoughts as you wrote. It is all such a meaningful tribute to your father.
Thanks. This means a lot to me. I am working toward publishing all 10 of his cards with my poems for his 80th birthday in November. Only 2 more poems to write and, of course, ongoing revision. But such a fun and meaningful project.