"On Handel’s Messiah" by John C. Mannone

On Handel’s Messiah

John C. Mannone

            After Isaiah 9:6

He wept. He said he saw the face

of God as he wrote his melodies

to mimic the literal meanings, lyrics

from the scriptures themselves:

—appellations of the triune godhead

attributed to the Savior’s name!

No wonder the tears of Handel

as he sang to his Messiah,

my Messiah, I sing the same libretto,

my tears mixing with his.

Poet’s Notes: Almost every time I hear Handel’s Messiah, I am drawn to tears. I suppose this poem was inevitable. 

Editor's Note:  This will be the last poem in our "Twelve Days of Christmas" series.  I hope the series helped to bring a good portion of the spirit of Christmas into the New Year.  Songs of Eretz will begin formally introducing our new Frequent Contributors with Poets of the Week features beginning next week.