I HEAR THE MUSIC

They tell me I am a fool
They say I should not stay with you
Should not love you
But how can I not?

They do not understand
I'm not certain I do myself
But I understand enough
To know that this is
What you must do

"Leave him, Constanze," they say
"He will break you, leave you ruined
You must think of yourself
You must think of the child"

Don't they know
We are a family?
And I cannot think of us
Without thinking of you

I hear the music
Not the way you do
For yours is a gift
None of us can understand

But it was given to you
So that you may give it to others
And you give it so freely
Why do they not hear?

I hear the music
It is there in your smile
And in your touch
And yes, even in the way
You choose to live

For even if all our money were gone
We would still have the music
We would still have the magic
That comes through you alone
And which you have chosen
To share with me

I hear the music
That is your life
And I love you
What they say makes no difference

I know what matters
Because I hear the music

--Valerie Lynn Meachum
   Summer 1989