Casa Dance

Rutger van Groningen

I think I must have dreamed it - or was it yesterday?
On an eve of myth and magic - in a place of beauty fey
The night was black as a raven's eye - by flickering lantern light
On a darkling lake, between the mists - stood a villa fair and white.

In the many-pillared casa, was held a masked ball -
Two sisters, fair as young gazelles, moved softly through the halls -
To torch-lit lawn on rippled lake, where the moon reflected gold
Where strings and tambourine did sound, and a bard sang songs of old.

The crescent moon of burnished bronze hung in a sable sky -
And the sisters danced with graceful hands and smiling kohl-black'd eyes!
Their hennaed feet on the dew-wet grass, remembered ancient rites -
And the tambourine echoed o'er the lake - in the breathless summer night!

Within the casa courtyard, fine lords and ladies fair,
In many-colored raiment, of silks and satins rare.
And the ladies' ice blue gazes through their masks of fantasy,
Caressed their secret rivals - with violet jealousies!

The jeweled hilts of weapons - winked bright on noble hips
In flickering shadows, whispered words from mead-sweet ruby lips.
Scents of sacred incense wafted from the chapel-hall
Then a Turkish prince with a mask of gold for a pagan dance did call!

So ancient song and silver'ed strings rang through the candled hall -
And a sister danced in a tasseled swirl- delighting revelers all!
Her hennaed feet traced webs of fire, all on the carpets rare -
And the tambourine echoed o'er the ball in the breathless summer air!

The moon presided o'er the mere - a scimitar of gold
'Til revelers had departed - and torches all gone cold
I think I must have dreamed it all, or was it yesterday?
On an eve of myth and magic, in a place of beauty fey.

This page maintained by Cerian Cantwr, cerian@minstrel.com.