Rondo-Burleske by Jonathan Taylor

Rondo-Burleske
            After Gustav Mahler, Symphony no.9 (1909)
 
Lost in a labyrinth of counterpoint
a polyphony of dead-ends
where the hedges move
even the earth is no longer unironic
somewhere deep within
a minotaur’s in a fugue
though he too is
 
lost in a labyrinth of counterpoint
a clew of tangled scales
marches leading nowhere
Léharian laughter in D minor
and once a glimpse of sky
and song birds who aren’t
 
lost in a labyrinth of counterpoint
but all exits are blocked
short-lived joy poisoned
overwhelmingness overwhelmed
 
by labyrinthine counterpoint
and somewhere deep within
a minotaur’s roaring
rampaging through hedges
enraged  by a redly-budding century
and the obscene tumescene of spring

Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor's books include the novels "Melissa" (Salt, 2015) and "Entertaining Strangers" (Salt, 2012), the memoir "Take Me Home" (Granta, 2007), and the poetry collection "Musicolepsy" (Shoestring, 2013). He is Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Leicester. His website is www.jonathanptaylor.co.uk.