Star over Bethlehem - Agatha Christie [20]
Happy-go-lucky Harlequin,
Go by …
(But never again with Columbine,
Never again with you.
Side by side, and hand in hand,
We wandered the wide world through!
And because I could not understand,
Columbine
Will never be mine,
Will never again be mine …)
I come
With a tap on the cheek,
And a quip so gay,
An invisible sprite
In my motley array,
With a dangle o’ spangle
To flash in the light!
And lo! when they seek—
I have vanished from sight!
For nobody ever sees Harlequin,
Happy-go-lucky Harlequin,
In flight …
(But never again with Columbine,
Never again with you.
For with all the craft of my magic art
I never guessed what she loved the best
Was the song of a human heart …
I gave her the earth, and the stars above,
And she bartered them all for a song of love!
A song that I never knew …
So Columbine
Will never be mine,
Will never again be mine …)
I pass
With a call and a cry
And a taunt so gay,
Like the flash of a dart
I speed on my way!
In a hush, with the rush
Of my magic art!
And I cannot die,
I must play my part …
For never a soul has Harlequin,
Happy-go-lucky Harlequin,
Only a broken heart …
PIERROT’S SONG TO THE MOON
I AM Pierrot, simple Pierrot, singing to the moon
Loving, longing, craving, crying,
Ever seeking, ever sighing,
Through the night to noon.
I am he all lovers know!
Wandering through the world I go
In search of Columbine …
I am Pierrot, lovelorn Pierrot, seeking Columbine!
As I see her in my dreaming,
She is fair beyond all seeming,
Gentle and divine …
And I wander through life’s ways,
Living lonely all my days,
For love of Columbine!
Pierrette calls me, laughing Pierrette, with a merry cry:
“Pierrot! here is love and laughter!
Take no heed for what comes after,
Put your moon dreams by!
Come and dance! The world is wide!
You’ll forget you ever sighed
For love of Columbine!”
I am Pierrot, wand’ring Pierrot, passing on my way.
Though my love be never told her,
Though my arms shall never hold her,
I am hers alway.
Every lover knows my cry!
I go singing till I die
For love of Columbine …
PIERRETTE DANCING ON THE GREEN
PIERRETTE dancing on the green
Merrily, so merrily!
Curls of gold, and smile so sweet,
And her eyes
Are blue as skies
The bluest ever seen!
Oh! never a care has gay Pierrette!
Only a pair of dancing feet,
Dancing on the green.
“Pierrot, come and dance with me
Merrily, so merrily!
Must you ever sigh and seek?
Columbine
May be divine,
Yours she’ll never be!
But ever a smile has gay Pierrette,
Rosebud mouth and a dimpled cheek!
Come and dance with me.”
Pierrette dancing far and near
Daintily, so daintily!
If we never more should meet,
Would your eyes
As blue as skies
Shed a single tear?
Oh! never a heart has gay Pierrette!
Only a pair of dancing feet,
Dancing far and near.
“Handsome Pierrot, go your way
Wearily, so wearily!
Sing of dove-eyed Columbine,
Tears I leave
For her to grieve,
I go ever gay!
Oh! many a swain has fair Pierrette!
Many a foot to follow mine!
Pierrot! Go your way.”
Pierrette dancing on the green
Merrily, so merrily!
Curls of gold, and smile so sweet,
And her eyes
Are blue as skies
The bluest ever seen!
Oh! never a care has gay Pierrette!
Only a pair of dancing feet,
Dancing on the green.
COLUMBINE’S SONG
PIERROT singing to the moon
For love of me …
And his singing
Goes on ringing,
Softly clinging
To my heart …
Harlequin! Your magic art,
Reaching to the skies above,
Circling round the world so free,
Never made a song of love …
A song of love