Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm (Shepherds' song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm)

Droplets shaken,
fall from the old hat
as sensitive fingers
send them
back home.
Sunlight warms
brown faces,
knotty hands clasped
in thanks and joy.
Muted voices,
in the ears
of a silent man
walking away,
his notebook carrying
the sounds he hears in his soul.

Gewitter, Sturm (Thunderstorm)

Water falls
on the page
and taps the battered hat.
Voices rise
over the groans in the sky.
Seeking the arms
of the trees
sodden bodies huddle together
as one
shrugs into his coat
and raises his eyes to the Heavens.

Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Happy gathering of country folk)

Piping rises in the air,
rough fingers tapping a rhythm
as earth stained feet
circle to nature's beat.
A scherzo of blurring colours
and laughter
seeping into the ink
of Beethoven's notebook.

Szene am Bach (Scene at the brook)

Reflections in the water-
gold undulates into the blue;
windows into other eyes
seeing anew.
Hearing with the heart,
ink stained fingers
scratch across the page.

(First Movement: Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande (Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country)

Leaves blow in the breeze
the music of trees
carried in the wind
to the ears who can hear
the symphony of nature.