Friday 8 May 2009

Evensong


I had just turned the corner
onto the quiet of Schulhof Square -
leaving the busy clippety-cloppety
of the Fiaker horses on Steindlgasse behind me -
when the Angelus bells started calling
the faithful to pause for a moment.

From somewhere inside
the walls of the
Church of the Nine Choirs of Angels
a chorus of female voices rose
to sing the Evensong,
"Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae ... ".

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia.

The blossoms of the Princess tree
in front of Palais Obizzi
swayed slowly in the evening breeze.

The tables were set for dinner,
the evening shades were rising higher, over
the elegant portal and the Baroque façade.

A few early birds
were waiting for their evening meal.

A stray ray of the evening sun
illuminated the flowers
and set the blue vase ablaze.

The choir grew silent
and the little square settled
into the quiet of the evening.

And then,
the sun, and with her
the last golden evening light,
were gone.

As was the last
of the singing nuns.

Photographed by Merisi
at Schulhof
on Thursday, May 7, 2009

11 comments:

  1. I am unsure whether it is the beauty of your city or the magic of your photos that enchants me, but what a glorious interlude your blog provides! The urbanity, the history, the sophistication, the tones, the scenery, the confections, the captured moments of heightened awareness...Gorgeous!

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  2. A lovely respite from 'getting things done.' Thank you.

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  3. Merisi,
    I think it is both the beauty and charm of the city and your wonderful ability to capture in these photos the mood of these moments and a little unfolding story for our delight. I imagined I could here the nuns singing and feel the weak sun as it shrunk away from the square.
    'The church of the nine choirs of angels' has to have one of the most charming names I have ever heard.
    Thank you Merisi - you are a gem
    Happy days

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  4. I have been enjoying your pictures and words for a couple of months, but today's offerings are just superb. You not only have a marvelous photographic eye but a fantastic writing style. Thank you so much for helping me relive my brief stay in your glorious city.

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  5. Ditto on what louciao said! It is always a great pleasure to come visit here.

    Sara

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  6. Every photo, a postcard.
    As usual.
    You are a virtuoso of the shutter.
    -- Cip

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  7. Gentle, beautiful and relaxing and then...I see the icecream below...oh you absolute temptress!

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  8. Thank you again, dear Merisi, for reminding me of how a city can provide such graceful sights and sounds. Yes, I also felt that I could hear the music.

    Best wishes.

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  9. thanks for taking me away for a moment........

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  10. Louciao said it perfectly already.
    I am charmed, too.

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