Evening Thoughts

Grandma Stella reminisces about the powerful emotional impact of music on her soul, particularly Rimski Korsakov’s Shahrezad, transporting her back to her youth as a dancer as she listens alone in her house.

There is some music that tugs at my heart strings so strongly that I am almost reduced to emotional tears. I feel as if I was created at the same time as it was. One such piece of music is Shahrezad, by Rimski Korsakov. Even as a young girl, it affected me greatly.

I listened to it with deep emotion. I would sit still and concentrate, then I would sway to the music and feel my soul lift with elation.

It is dusk, and I am alone in the house except for my pets. They lie at my feet and they listen contentedly. My old pained body remembers the ballet steps I used to dance. In my mind, I am once more young and vital. I close my eyes as I listen to the music. I sway gently as my soul rises to dance with the light graceful ballet steps of old. I feel elated as I dance.

At last, the piece comes to an end. With a happy smile on my face, I lift up my arms in one last graceful pose. I am my young self once more. The piece is over. I open my eyes. I return to the present. My pets are curled up by my feet. Ah! That felt so good.