Danse Macabre

A dandy little villanelle with a dark overtone of wild abandon.

Welcome, my friend, to the Reveler’s Hearse.

Step lively now, there’s no time to delay;

Plague’s knockin’ at the doorstep, yessir-ee!

You there good sir, with the ulcers and bleeds! 

Come dance now with me, we’ll laugh and we’ll play,

Death’s bursting through the doorway, yessir-ee!

Fetch all your neighbors and everybody!

Bring a bit of tinder: wood, hair or hay,

I’ll pass around the torches,’ yessir-ee!

Come one, come all, to the Reveler’s Hearse!

Touch torch to tinder, let hell light the way!

We’re burnin’ and a-burnin,’ yessir-ee!

Sleep now poor soul, you’ve found rest and relief!

Care for a cocktail or sip of Wolfsbane? 

Sleep weary child, the sleep of the free. 

Our little green planet is thriving, you see

It’s us (humanity) that’s passing away!

Death’s hearse will pass by in but one hour or three,

So welcome, my friend, to the home of debris.

Reviews

[Markymark]

I love a good viallanelle, and this is a better one with a good choice of subject matter. A good many villanelle' ends up being about death including the most famous one of all, and this one is no exception.

Great piece,

Mark

[TBird J.]

I could almost hear it being sang, wow! I love the lines : Touch torch to tinder, let hell light the way!
We’re burnin’ and a-burnin,’ yessir-ee!

Such a fabulous write!

[Tate Morgan]

Now that reminds me of the thirteenth century plague

[Michael X]

wow, i fully enjoyed this and tha character play on wording,
the personna captures the spookiness with skill and human,
a dark dance- trance ambience, excellent job,
thanks for being Poet