Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A BALL-ROOM MADRIGAL, by W. C. NICHOLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A BALL-ROOM MADRIGAL, by                    
First Line: I sing not of beauties of nature
Last Line: W. C. Nichols.
Subject(s): Love - Unrequited


I SING not of beauties of nature,
Of flowers which beautify
Some arbored nook in the woodland,
Or the tints of the sunset sky.
But thoughts of a certain evening
To my throbbing brain now throng,
And e'en, as they throng, comes their echo,
This lightsome ball-room song.

Oh, when is a maiden more lovely,
Or when doth a subtler grace
Steal over her than when attired
In snowy-white tulle and lace?
When a perfume is wafted toward you
As you turn in the mazy dance, --
A perfume intoxicating
As the wines of Southern France.

Ah, well I remember one evening,
Which memory'll ever hold dear,
When I listened to music entrancing,
And the lights of the chandelier
Shed a halo that seemed beatific
O'er the maids in the festooned hall,
And among them, dark-eyed and flushing,
Was Betina, the fairest of all.

As I danced with Betina that evening,
And drank in the violin's wine,
And wished that the dance were forever,
Once she lifted her eyes to mine.
"A love of a dance," she whispered,
With a half-regretful sigh;
But, alas! as I felt my heart throbbing,
"A dance of love," thought I.
W. C. NICHOLS.





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