Isadora Duncan: Studies for Six Dance Movements Prologue

 

Much noise and deep restlessness

Grief and disharmony

Is this the whole end of it?

The truth of it all?

Is it so certain then that this life

Consists only of fourfold nonsense?

Is it not far more true that this life

Is exactly the reverse

Rest-joy and harmony,

Rhythm, the most certain truth -

And the expression of all this - Art?

Is civil then, and ugliness,

Really the image of force?

Must restlessness be the symbol of life -

Must a noisy, trying gloom sread

Over the enchantment of things -

If these are questions, I do not ask questions-

For I have no doubts at all, -

I see calmness and beauty, the strong and sweet

Draw near in a perfect manner -

Everything gives place to the spirit,

Nothing can hinder it -

Three lines or three hundreed

Give the same picture -

One tone or a staff of tones

The same melody

One step or a hundred steps

Create the same dance.

Something set down -

As a record -

Something uttered on the divine theme,

Which is so simple and only simple to comprehend-

The theme which commences

"I am happy...."

And ends with

"...how fair."

This is what she dances -

Never yet has she shown dark or unbearable sorrow-

Always sunshine's around her -

Even the little shadows disappear

And flee, when she passes -

This is the real force-She srings from the Great race-

From the great Companions -

from the line of Sovereigns, who

Maintain the world and make it move,

From the Courageous Giants,

The Guardins of Beauty -

The Solvers of all Riddles.

 

Craig, Edward Gordon