Creation of a Poem: I See Joy

Creation of a Poem
"I See Joy"

Peter Y. Chou

Illumination upon illumination have ben filling and fulfilling
my soul ever since the poem "I See Joy" flowed through me in Ithaca on
June 15, 1968. This poetic awakening came from many sources, perhaps
too numerous to describe. I recall that it was during a time when I was
deeply immersed and inspired in the creative lives of the great masters
in art, literature, & science. By studying their notebooks, diaries, journals,
and letters, I was hoping to gain some insights on the nature of creativity
when I became suddenly aware of the spiritual linkages of all beings in
the universe. I was also compiling a book of beautiful quotations as a
wedding gift for my sister on June 1st. So my mind was totally imbued
with poetic gems from masters throughout the ages and all corners of
the globe. The idyllic atmosphere of the lakes and gorges on the Cornell
University campus was certainly another factor.

The actual composition came however while I was listening to the
Four Seasons by Vivaldi. It was the 2nd movement "Winter" which
suddenly sparkled the poetic flame in me. This largo movement
depicts a steady falling of rain by employing a contended lyrical
melody for solo violin, with a sound-effect raindrop accompaniment
in the orchestral strings (pizzaicato),. The beauty conveyed is just
beyond this world. The melody gave me the feeling "Oh, this is how
it feels to be a snowflake or a raindrop." I played this largo movement
over again and again, and while the raindrops fell musically, the poetic
couplets fell our easily as from the sky. I would contemplate on nature,
man, and the arts, writing the first line of the couplet, while the second
line flowed instantly like a bubbling fountain of divine inspiration.

For the first time, I understood what Paul Klee meant when he said
"My hand is entirely the instrument of a distant sphere. It is not my
hand that functions, but something else, something higher, something
somewhere remote. I have great friends there, dark as well as light...
they are all very kind to me." Thus, I finished the 36 couplet poem in
a day much to my surprise. This is just a simple explanation of how
I composed the poem "I See Joy". In a letter to Franz Liszt, Richard
Wagner wrote "When you create— you do not explain." However,
in my studies on the miracles of the mind, I find myself trying to
explain the creative impulses which lead to the brilliant works of
art and science. Of course, the masters rarely stop to explain their
own works. They just go on creating more and more masterpieces
for us to wonder and admire. Critics will dissect these works and
speculate on their source of inspiration. They will debate and even
write scholarly books, yet the picture of creativity is never complete.
I thought that a better glimpse to creativity will come if we analyze
our own works, since we do know ourselves best of all. But in the
final analysis, all creations whether human or divine are veiled in
deep mystery. We must love our work & be thankful for whatever
that comes our way, remembering always to keep our mind in
openness and joyful receptivity.

— Peter Y. Chou
Ithaca, 6-15-1968
Cornell University