A tyrant and a siren in a crowded hall... |
Take my hand and join the dance, My love, I pray! Come join the gauntly stilted Courtiers who pace across Black marble floors, With sounds of clicking heels Sharp bones and sinews, Snarling jaws and long-toothed smiles As now the ladies’ Simpering fans blow shreds of hair All back and forth Before unseeing eyes. Dress thyself in velvet, Thou, my dear, As red as any madman’s thirst For sour wine, Strap on thy broken sword, And I will pinch my hollowed cheeks, Rouge shriveled lips, Perfume my wasted body With the scent of sweet temptation and a lecherous need. We are the perfect couple Thou and I… Obey and reverence here my glorious self-- The queen of subtle charms And hidden daggers-- Rise, and let me slip my golden pendant Round thy neck, If it be chains, what matter, Love? For thou shalt be my knight, My wedded husband. King of all This richly dowered hell Where pustuled subjects rush To make a fad of every whim, And scores of parchment beauties Wait to lead thee in a round. Ye painted dominoes, Ye gilded cherubim, Come forth and hie ye down to meet My new-trothed lord; O, ye my fine musicians, play! Strike up your bloated drums And dry-tongued reeds. Give us a reel! Your gutted strings by turns Shall lead us stumbling down the hall. Be not thou sad, My heart! Thy prayer was riches-- I delivered all I vowed. For thou hast bargained Till I claimed thee As I claim all men who strive to earn The ignominy of the tyrant’s noose. Thou speakst of honour, and the greater dream! Look to me, And me only for these gifts Of heady power. Think thee of nothing but today. Thus shall thy feeble brow be crowned With too-late wisdom. Learned of lessons Won by wars Through demons’ blessings and a thirst for blood. Concourses of the hungered Shall take scythes and Reap a harvest in thy empty name! Then will I show thee by what means it is That too-wise women turn the heads Of peerless men, ambitious brains. Thy land is desolation And thy comfort grief, Yet are we gay! Come join the dance, love. Let the devil wait… |