Mini Manifesto II

The day you write your mini manifesto, uncanny things happen. You arrive at the voice instructor's house for an afternoon accompanying lessons and begin sifting through the copies of new songs. And there it is. All gossamer and butterflies' wings and a flurry of petticoats. He beat you to it. The piano part is delicate and breathing (short breaths, long breaths) and--bonus!--in one of the best-fitting keys under the hand (F sharp major). It is like being pinched. You take your manifestos so seriously, yet Strauss found you out over a hundred years ago.

Ständchen, op.17, no.2.