Danza, Danza

--

He came to our town with lute and lyre

One hot summer's evening.

We told him we would his talents acquire

Should he grace us with music and singing.

--

He sat on the stone fount in the square

A picture of uncaring and careless ease

Ghostly eyes shrouded by his dark hair;

Instrument balanced on one of his bent knees.

--

We couldn't help but dance

As he sang a lilting song for us.

We swayed to it in a happy trance

While the pied-piper sang thus:

--

Bend with the music maiden.

Dance on the waves of the sultry tune.

Swirl until all the world has faded.

Slip beneath the light of the moon.

--

We assumed he was a simple bard

Speaking for a voice long past.

So to his words we paid no regard

It would end with the song at last.

--

Yet our musician kept on playing

And put us in a sleepy lull.

We didn't notice that he pulled her strings;

His tempting music played in her skull.

--

To every word she listened.

To every trill she twirled.

Sweet sweat on her skin glistened.

He had entranced our lovely girl.

--

Bend with the music maiden.

Dance on the waves of the sultry tune.

Swirl until all the world has faded.

Slip beneath the light of the moon.

--

She was his sweet marionette,

And she was happily lost in the rhymes.

She would easily do things she'd regret;

He'd leave before the sunrise.

--

The music gradually died away,

And exhausted we went to our beds

Too tired to think the two would runaway

Our filly thought she would be blissfully wed.

--

She returned to us in after a fortnight

With her head held low in shame

Yet her smile lacked regret, and her step was light,

On her lips she hummed his refrain.

--

Bend with the music maiden.

Dance on the waves of the sultry tune.

Swirl until all the world has faded.

Slip beneath the light of the moon.

Inspired by the song: Danza,danza, fanciulla gentile composed by Francesco Durante