In the far and safer times
When the Earth was safe and sound,
Once there lived the knights of rhymes
Those who used to hang around
In the forests and the lanes
Thru the long forbidden castles,
Sang they songs so pure and plain
Full of leaves and winds and rustles.
Neither laments nor complaints
Heard their God in hidden heaven,
Weird and wild were them saints
Were them bums and were them seven.
One was born to seek the virtue,
one - in search of sacred beauty,
one was said to tell the fortune,
one possessed by lust for duty,
one was doomed to sins and pity,
one was destined to convict him,
and the last, so cute and pretty
was proclaimed the holy victim.
In some hamlet, sole and queer,
Heard they tunes of country music,
voice of these was fresh and clear,
Crystal, innocent, amusing.
Gal of fourteen, small and slender,
Proved to be a perfect dancer.
«Who are thee, so sweet and tender?»
«Virgin Mary» - was the answer.
Eyes of blue and lips of scarlet
Turned their moods in eerie style,
Tops and hips of fairy starlet
Kept them motionless awhile.
Off they went. The magic sign
Did not touch the sight of mind.
Thus the miracle divine
Was in vain for them to find.
On they marched and rode and wandered
Faith or passion failed to seize them.
Grace and excellence they wanted
Seekers of some secret wisdom.