Gathered together some grumbling old men
warming the bleachers since Lord knows when
hawkers of halos and stoners of flesh
couldn’t distinguish the stale from the fresh
side-saddle straddling some bloody steps
crumbling old queens in their evening dress
cake-eaters all swathed in delicatesse
who wouldn’t know bread and who couldn’t bless
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
Casting his eyes on the trespassing jewel
daring to question, nobody was fool
fearing no vision, he followed her down
letting her beauty delight like the dawn
sinking his face in the Word that he ate
nobody lamented their holiness’ fate
put under conviction their righteous hate
undraped their consciences, silenced debate
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
Why did she wander, what led her inside
this room where the mirrors let nobody hide
where nobody speaking caught hold of her ears
kissed by her lovers and pierced by their jeers
Drawn by the bride-groom, suspended in praise
her heart came unraveled with one loving gaze
Where could she room now, her house all ablaze
Run to the wedding-feast and change her ways
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
Bare head and shoulders and legs she ran
right into the bakery to look for a man
Pushing aside the grandmothers who swept
she found holy feet, hung on them, and wept
Oh, what a damaging love to display
scandal to snobbery, death to dismay
There nobody loved her but gave her away
in a font to her husband through the spray
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
warming the bleachers since Lord knows when
hawkers of halos and stoners of flesh
couldn’t distinguish the stale from the fresh
side-saddle straddling some bloody steps
crumbling old queens in their evening dress
cake-eaters all swathed in delicatesse
who wouldn’t know bread and who couldn’t bless
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
Casting his eyes on the trespassing jewel
daring to question, nobody was fool
fearing no vision, he followed her down
letting her beauty delight like the dawn
sinking his face in the Word that he ate
nobody lamented their holiness’ fate
put under conviction their righteous hate
undraped their consciences, silenced debate
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
Why did she wander, what led her inside
this room where the mirrors let nobody hide
where nobody speaking caught hold of her ears
kissed by her lovers and pierced by their jeers
Drawn by the bride-groom, suspended in praise
her heart came unraveled with one loving gaze
Where could she room now, her house all ablaze
Run to the wedding-feast and change her ways
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
Bare head and shoulders and legs she ran
right into the bakery to look for a man
Pushing aside the grandmothers who swept
she found holy feet, hung on them, and wept
Oh, what a damaging love to display
scandal to snobbery, death to dismay
There nobody loved her but gave her away
in a font to her husband through the spray
Though everyone saw her, nobody looked
as she rode among them, her whole body booked
decked out in pearls, the wages of fame
rage of the girls, her stage wasn’t tame
flaunting her curls, PELAGIA her name
—Romanós
No comments:
Post a Comment