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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


L'INDIFFERENT; WATTEAU; THE LOUVRE by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY

First Line: HE DANCES ON A TOE
Last Line: WHO DANCES AND MUST DIE.
Subject(s): DANCING & DANCERS; WATTEAU, ANTOINE (1684-1721);

He dances on a toe
As light as Mercury's:
@3Sweet herald, give thy message!@1 No,
He dances on; the world is his,
The sunshine and his wingy hat;
His eyes are round
Beneath the brim:
To merely dance where he is found
Is fate to him
And he was born for that.

He dances in a cloak
Of vermeil and of blue:
@3Gay youngster, underneath the oak,
Come, laugh and love!@1 In vain we woo;
He is a human butterfly; --
No soul, no kiss,
No glance nor joy!
Though old enough for manhood's bliss,
He is a boy,
Who dances and must die.



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