Ludwig van Beethoven’s Return to Vienna br br Three miles from my adopted city br lies a village where I came to peace. br The world there was a calm place, br even the great Danube no more br than a pale ribbon tossed onto the landscape br by a girl’s careless hand. Into this stillness br ..... br br I smile and bow, and the world is loud. br And though I dare not lean in to shout br Can’t you see that I’m deaf?— br I also cannot stop listening. br br ..