Faust and . . . Gretchen . . .

Faust does not seek power through knowledge, but to rise above 
human knowledge denied to the rational mind.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play “Faust
,” inspired me to compose 
a poem set in a contemporary setting, to show how eternal Love regenerates 
and transforms individuals and thus reveals itself in their lives in its 
fullest power. ------------------------Each verse in italic is from the
 great master-poet Goethe > Faust Part One -- 
(a bit paraphrased by me, and that seen in brackets).



Faust and . . .

 Gretchen . . .

Taken fierce pains, from end to end.

Now here [he is], a fool for sure!

No wiser than [he] was before: 

His thought sober, unspoken, he gazes at a solo flyer,


An eagle going up higher and higher into a calm


Morning sky. He feels the fire of a wish to be as wise,


To leave behind earth-bound views, mortal design’s


False luster, shattering happenings in youth, and


Paralyzing gloom of mentally destructive moods,


Absorbed by an overriding desire for love and wisdom


True, to saturate his mental attire, he scans the broad


Horizon anew. From the heavens at last he hears


An angelic voice: “Love knows the longings of your


Heart.  Be strong!  Fear not!"

This--a brief message, and rich with healing flare


Gives him courage and with forward, easy air,


He calls the one he knows most fair.

[He is] not plagued by doubt or scruple,

Scared by neither Hell nor Devil –

Instead all Joy is snatched away . . .   

Now and here he keeps her in his keen sight.


At length they meet; this is the chance for his desire

To be near her is his way to join an inner fire!

She, in soft shades retires as his intense love abides,

Buoyant with love he yields to love’s demands

In bright light’s enchantment--love on fire has


Commandments: “Be tender, thoughtful, deluge with


Rapture!” Skirting his loins, he pines, “What we have


Transcends a downward pull, and lifts us
 to

New heights. I love you hundred fold, of all

The women I knew, God knows I love you most,


It is YOU who makes me feel whole!


She reflects: “I see … but wait, dear”— she ponders,


“To what height of soaring should we wander?”

To see if, through Spirit powers and lips,

[He] might have all secrets at [his] fingertips.

And no longer, with rancid sweat . . . 

Within his heart burning—turning, “O amazing


Moments gloriously bright, my love, you are the light

Of 
my life.” She pauses … on the brow of time she

Reads
 the sign: “Love’s commencement a temporary


Madness, its oath of dauntless power an intoxicating


Wine.” His voice resounds: “My love, why hush?


Why make a pause as if waiting for dark clouds to part?


The tone of your voice speaks of doubts, doubts make


Trust debark.” She entreats him, “Dear,” with an urgent


Plea, “Explain: You gave hints of flirtatious stints,


Reckless plays with simulated fire, women beautiful,


You said, you desire. You have as friends a group of


Birds for your delight—of one you spoke as funny, light,

And
 sweet, and enjoyed her near your seat on a flight.”

[He] binds the world’s innermost core together,

See all its workings, and its seeds,

Deal no more in words’ empty reeds . . .  

Deep in her throat she cries: “What does that mean?


Strange to say you are flirtatious, even though

You spoke of your own nature godly wise.”

A sigh, “Do you think of God so slight?


Do you expect me to condone a playfulness so wild?


This is false, and a wrong bestows no peace of mind.”


Defensive—he turns and winks. … She thinks:

“He does as if he cannot hear, or wish not

To see the Light.  O innocence, what is my lot? Is this


Empty air surrounding me, a plot, and his wooing the


Fiddle of his art?” Thus she bears in mind the concerns


Of her heart, however, she feels his tenderness


Dispenses bliss; her eyes soft, they blink; she needs to


Understand or sink -- “Gracious Truth, please reply!”

Ah! If on the mountain height

[He] might stand in [her] sweet light,

Float with Spirit in mountain caves . . .

“Is
 not God’s will a constant guide as joyful unity


Provides eternal happiness the bride?” 

He speaks again, “My dearest, have no fear, be patient


With a mother’s son!  Even though this is a dark day --

One thing is sure—it is my love for you!”

As she within grapples, he in-tune with her, dazzles,


“Are you alright?” His caressing voice gently


Persuasive, puts her at ease, and she finds peace.


“My love be bold, perilous notions banish,

Most challenges are over least important


Points, best to let them vanish. There, you see,

Our love is soaring.”  With a voice full of passion,


His behavior—rising, falling, dashing, “You are with

Me, it’s all that counts, I’ll keep my arms around.”

This is [his] world! And what a world!

And need you ask why [his] heart    

Makes such tremors in [his] breast? . . .


Brilliant sunlight, sea breeze blowing, her mind out of

A haze, thus her voice is raised, “Can you hear me?” Asking


With a sober gaze, “Is an accomplished creature, one


Like an eagle so unlike himself? To speed through vast


Skies to apply your wit to earthly gains,
 worldliness and 
Fun?  Such feebleness. … And what a
 pun? Please, tell me

The purpose of such a one?” He now in plain words tells her

Of his own demise: “I am at
 odds with a former wife, she is

A bird of a different
 feather; disproves of my routines in life.

Her fettered mass pitiless applies to loveless


Working of inflicted lies, removing those by words


Heartless, … a callous power of the human mind,

Bustling with friendships of various kind, she


By intent a charming socialite.”

Why all [his] life-energies are

Choked by some unknown distress?

Smoke and mildew hem him in . . .

Alas, her mate one of the most commanding birds in the


Sky, and as such appears as a highly valued plum


On her feathery bun, in the company of dim lights --

He calls to apologize, and explains, “You would have to


Once in a while forgive me for some blunder,”

Casually phrasing, “I think of you with gratitude and


Wonder, you are a blessing set apart.” He then, having


Said this starts his drive to the river where his


Former wife and his child, in a country cottage reside.


Led by the ways of love, Love’s counsel brings release:


“I know you long to see her face, go after her! Don’t

Go in hiding. Have your peace.” He obeys, as an eagle

Discreetly upward gliding, his yearning for her makes


Him spy, and as he finds her, he cries: “My dearest,

When I know the starry road,

And Nature, you instruct me,

My soul’s power, you shall flow . . .  

Why
 are you cautious, and circumspect with respect to me,


I know, it’s conditioned by trouble caught …
we can talk,

As you correctly thought about our 
feelings,

Without holding back, please let us
 return to that

Enthusiastic sharing, to hear the sparkle

In
 our voices and the shear love in oneness daring.” Ho!


On lifting swells of joy she glides but still takes it all


In thoughtful stride, and cheerfully replies,

“The
 worth of love at our side is the strongest force in life,


And it is our one and only might!” Straightway he


Admires, “You are so wondrously wise, I knew it when


I saw you at first sight, let's rejoice, recapture, and


Continue our journey towards even closer ties, and

To
 be more grateful for the evidence of so much joy.”

Ah! In a moment, what bliss flows                            

Through [his] senses from this Sign!

[He] feels life’s youthful, holy joy: it glows . . .

She, “Generous heart, you take my breath apart, know,


With gladness I have spoken of a friendship as


Unbroken.” He answers with delight, speaking in a deep


Voice: “Let us sail the winds of pure love’s token,


In our own heavenly world so bright.” 




--eva-maria hogrefe


(September 27, 2013 -- edited November 28, 2013)