Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A BALLAD OF ST. VITUS, by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A BALLAD OF ST. VITUS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Girls fidget with their fans. Scarce heard
Last Line: Prince vitus stalks along broadway!
Subject(s): Broadway, New York City; Dancing & Dancers; Vitrus, Saint (3rd Century)


GIRLS fidget with their fans. Scarce heard,
The mummers pause. The curtain rings.
Desire, like an uncouth bird,
Against the playhouse flaps huge wings.
The crowds, like crazy silhouettes,
Reel to a tune more fierce than gay
From thousand frantic cabarets --
Saint Vitus stalks along Broadway.
This is the turkey trot. The Saint
Spurs them.. They mimic, scared of peace,
Till the last blazing billboards faint,
The mad gyrations of Maurice.
When from wan sleep they start, the drug
Still whips their blood. Thus night and day,
With tango, grapevine, bunny-hug,
Saint Vitus trots along Broadway.
And yet -- why not? Tomorrow closes
The door of life and ends my rime,
And where Milady pins my roses
The worm will leave a trail of slime.
New bacchants wheel to measures new --
Who shall remember Gaby's sway?
And who shall think of us, of you
And me, along the mad White Way?

L'Envoi

Dear, Death the fowler spreads his net,
And lovely limbs are made of clay;
Our dust shall witch with vain regret
If love we seize not while we may:
Prince Vitus stalks along Broadway!





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