The Burnt Dancer

Lyrics

sotta pioggia dell' aspro martiro Within the yellow ring of flame A black moth through the night Caught in the circle of desire Expiates his heedless flight With beat of wings that do not tire   Distracted from more vital values To golden values of the flame What is the virtue that he shall use In a world too strange for pride or shame? A world too strange for praise or blame  Too strange for good or evil: How drawn here from a distant star For mirthless dance and silent revel O danse mon papillon noir! The tropic odours of your name   From Mozambique or Nicobar Fall on the ragged teeth of flame Like perfumed oil upon the waters What is the secret you have brought us Children's voices in little corners Whimper whimper through the night Of what disaster do you warn us Agony nearest to delight? Dance fast dance faster There is no mortal disaster The destiny that may be leaning Toward us from your hidden star Is grave, but not with human meaning O danse mon papillon noir! Within the circle of my brain   The twisted dance continues. The patient acolyte of pain, The strong beyond our human sinews, The singèd reveller of the fire, Caught on those horns that toss and toss,  Losing the end of his desire Desires completion of his loss. O strayed from whiter flames that burn not O vagrant from a distant star O broken guest that may return not  O danse danse mon papillon noir!