| Author | Date Entered/Modified | Views |
| Daniel A. Stafford | 6/13/2000 3:47:31 AM 8/31/2020 6:28:10 AM | 852 |
Palace Of Glass And Steel
There is a story, full of strife, it was a crossing, by chance in life.
The lady doctor, spared no dime, the famous architect, ahead of time.
A friend's house dining, they did partake, fateful meeting, no mistake.
The lady fair, in her eccentric way, asked the architect, to give his say.
"Have you a young architect, within your firm, to build a house, can you confirm?"
"My lady dear, never fear, I shall design it myself, within the year."
The architect dreamed a wonderful dream, glass and steel, which would gleam.
In his slow, methodical way, he spared no expense, he had his say.
Like the great towers, in cities fair, which he had envisioned, up in the air.
The incredible house, out in the wood, slowly took shape, it was looking good.
Rising costs did escalate, beyond estimates, determined by fate.
The heiress felt she was being rooked, she saw her purse as being cooked.
Letters she'd written were all the rage, the architect had every page.
In the end, she couldn't budge, the payments were due, said the judge.
She paid her way beyond the price, but truth be told the house was nice.
She took control after he'd been paid, they wouldn't speak 'til past the grave.
Changes she made to spite the design, to pull it all within her own line.
As time went on, she lived through the flood, the river near, the house boiled her blood.
The architect had created a palace to last beyond his day, had secured his fame, had had his way.
The garden of sculpture was quite a sight, which should have been to her delight.
I'll sell it to you, she told the Italian from the House of Lords.
He now has a place to keep wooden swords.
A place of beauty back within the woods, Tranquil and serene without her goods.
You'll listen to my poems before you buy, and when you are done I shall say goodbye.
To the palace of glass and steel. Yes, I shall retire to my Italian villa after the deal.
The Lord had to listen for half an hour, to translated poems from the elder flower.
Eloquently she quoted verse, and he walked away with a lighter purse.
The dour Lady died that very same year, and now the Lord takes vacation here.
Another time the Palace was drowned, but the Lord brought it back and held his ground.
The palace of glass and steel, has outlived mistress and creator, was quite the deal.
And now the crowds go wandering through, admiring the work that the architect drew.
Buried in the same hallowed ground, the heiress and the architect can be found.
At times I wonder if they now speak of the place, now they're beyond all time and space.
And the good Lord vacations well, and I think the house was built quite swell.
A tranquil place ahead of it's times, a serene and haunting beauty in it's lines.
Many years may it last, and may the Lord hold it fast.
AquarianM
By Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 06/13/2000
Farnsworth House Website
Author's Comments
A tribute to the Farnsworth house in Plano, IL and the people who brought it to be. There is a fascinating story there. I just saw it this weekend. And it is now owned by an Italian who holds a seat in the English House of Lords. A good and kind man, I hear. The heiress who commissioned it's creation spent her last days translating Italian poetry to the English language in her Italian villa. She died the year the house was sold.
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As of this year, the house has been bought by the State of Illinois, and is now a state-owned historical site. Tours are available through the web site linked above here. (09/07/2001)
| Author | Date Entered/Modified | Views |
| Daniel A. Stafford | 6/13/2000 3:47:31 AM 8/31/2020 6:28:10 AM | 852 |
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| Daniel A. Stafford | aqmstaffo@mailbag.com | www.mailbag.com/users/aqmstaffo/index.html |