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David Steans

Neuschwanstein

Across the ocean and above the lands Sits a legacy for all curious eyes. An ivory castle on a lonely peak Where even the clouds bow down Beneath its soaring majestic spires. It was the dream of one king not long ago That flustered the brow of every fair maiden. To build for beauty, hold art above war. Dismissing tradition and logic for lies And following a single dream to lands end. He sat on the banks of the river Rhine Imagining one original palace after the next. Maybe he shopped in the Marienplatz For velvet loveseats and porcelain swans To adorn the seed of his hearts content. But now the king has been gone for years. And Bavaria has never quite been the same Since the death of Kind Ludwig the mad. His castles stand proud and greet the wanderers And journeyman, and dreamers and historians alike. Though all are rare in craft and dripping in style One of his lonely dreams stands above the rest. Reaching beyond the Alpine rolling skies Colouring heaven with a touch of human royalty. A place any Sleeping Beauty would pray to wake. It is here, I fell in love again, twice in the time of a year. First with the earth, its inhabitants achievements And the very nature that hides them in its breast. The lakes that capture the suns final rays, The heaving mountains with their fancy caps of snow, The whispering cow bells carried by the gentle winds And the serenity of the painted villages sleeping below. The second time was with a young mate Who accompanied me to my secret place. To cavort once the daily bustles had calmed. He fell for the battlements I had loved before Understood the treasures I longed to share. He carried me up the mountain like a princess To her new palace on the night they were wed. He kissed me to the whimpering of waterfalls, Then watched on as the sun sank to bed. Blessed be whoever may fall upon this place Tucked into the heart of the Bavarian Alps For this is the spot where I proudly left my heart, And left Neuschwanstein for widened eyes to behold.   Robyn Schwartz, 2001

Across the ocean and above a land Sits a legacy-curious, oft-eyed Ivory castle, lonely peak Clouds break down Spires.   One dead king and dead king dreams.  Maidens made, give us your line -  Build me beauty, art beats war Logic for liars Landsend.   Count near river, and on Rhine think right  Imagine one place, next the next Shop maybe, Platz lately Love seats swans Deck.   King’s been years-long gone Bavaria quiet, been same since Poor dead Ludwig, mad kind king Wander proud castle Journeymen Man.   Drip rare through and all are old Dream alone, stand or rest above. Reach beyond the Alpine skies Colour heaven human Sleeping Beauty.   It’s here I fell in love, Twice in the time of a year. First mountain-fancied caps of snow, Serene village paints sleep below. Cowbell carried.   Second time - company, young mate Come get me in a secret place Daily bustle then kiss me Fell for it Treasure.   He carried me up and down his mountains Like Princes in palaces The night they were wed The marital bed Waterfall.   Then watched me, on a sun sank bed. Blessed be whoever but mainly me Bavarian Alps now my heart Hit the spot Neuschwanstein.   David Steans (after Robyn Schwartz, 2001)