Harlequin

I've always been interested in the Comedia Del'arte - Harlequin, Columbine, Pierrot etc. They were the precursors of pantomime, but like all the best comedy there is tragedy at its heart.

Black and white and red all over,

He's murder on the chessboard,

Will have you cornered

Where you least expect it

He'll catch you napping,

Sweep you off your feet,

Send you whirling in

A dizzying Arabesque

Don't try to ask him questions

Or catch a glimpse of those

Glittering eyes behind the mask,

He'll tell you nothing

About yourself,

That you didn't

Know already

He'll make you do things

You didn't want to do,

Set your heart beating

Like a twelve-year-old

In the grip of first romance,

Til you find yourself

Tripping through puddles,

Dancing in high heels,

Falling headlong,

Head over heels,

Over heart, over head,

And you'll turn to kiss him,

Yelling 'More! More!'

But he takes his bow

And then he's gone,

Vanished himself off stage -

Ta da! Fools them every time!

Cue rapturous applause.