Carmen

Night in Seville, and the twinkle

Of stars in the far azure set,

The mandolin's torturing tinkle,

The click of the castanet!

Music and wine and low laughter,

Love and a torment of tune —

Hate and a poignard thereafter,

Under the yellow moon.

Here in the night I await her,

Under the slumberous moon;

Yearns my fierce spirit to mate her —

All my sick senses aswoon

Beneath the wild sway of her dancing

Passion and pride are at war;—

Thrall to her amorous glancing,

Grandee and toreador.

Carmen Gitana, behold her!

Bright passion-flower of the South;

Soft Southern languors enfold her,

Scarlet the bloom of her mouth;

Passionate, sensuous, cruel,

Raying warm laughter and light,

A ruby — a scintillant jewel —

Set on the brow of the Night!

Ah, the wild rhythm of her dancing!

Lithe with the jaguar's grace,

Ah, the sweet fire of her glancing,

The love-litten lure of her face!

And ah, in my fierce arms to hold her

This strange scarlet flower of the South.

Close to my heart-beat to fold her

Drinking the wine of her mouth!

Sweet, thou art weary with dancing,

Sick of the music and light

Praises and overbold glancing —

Steal with me into the night;

Out of the riot of laughter,

Out of the torment of tune —

Love and close kisses thereafter

Under the sensuous moon!

Carmen, my fierce arms enfold thee,

Bright passion-flower of the South,

Close to my hot heart I hold thee,

Crushing the flower of thy mouth.

Love — for the loving that swayed me,

Passion — for passion long past —

Hate — for the hate that betrayed me...

My dirk in your side at the last!