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. |
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