POETIC TAROCK

IX

Three turtle doves

There goes a deer. All alone in the snow.

Ice on his antlers with silvery glow.

Dreaming of poems and dreaming of love

as he encounters a blue turtle dove.*

»My eyelids feel heavy. I need to stay strong.

Oh turtle dove, can you sing me a song?«

»There once was a duchess. Her very first kiss

was both Dutch and French. It was perfect. A bliss.

Stairway to heaven. Then paradise lost.

How much a second of madness can cost...

Blame it on Venus or blame it on Mars?

There was a window and in between bars

Dutch sneaking out for a ride in that car.

Feel how she purrs... Was it too fast, too far?

Just fast enough for the driver to dwell.

Just far enough for the duchess to tell

to him: »Darling, don't break my heart slow!«*

And he said: »Okay then. Cue given to go.«

Dreaming of poems and dreaming of love

the deer then encounters a green turtle dove.

»My eyelids feel heavy. I need to stay strong.

Oh turtle dove, please, can you sing me a song?«

»She was the Empress. She conquered his heart.

Came at a price. Torn the Lovers apart.

Once it was done, she would find him to be

a little too common. The Empress, you see,

needs a big Chariot made of pure gold.

She took him out. Merciless.« Lo and behold,

the deer was now shivering. All out of love

as he encounters a white turtle dove.

»You look so fair, turtle dove number three.

What is the song you'll be singing to me?«

»Don't have the notes in my head. Not just yet.

I dare you, deer. Can you sing one? Take That?«

»Jesus and Mary! Me? Never, I pledge.

I'd rather be pulling that Santa Claus sledge!

You can take notes. I will pour out my soul.

A very short story. Together we roll,

she was the Empress and I let her rule

for a month, maybe two. It's the way of the Fool.

I used to caress her. Milady! My doe!

Promise to hold me and never let go!

I promise, she said. Played both parts... very well.

Good enough. I dunno, I was under a spell.

I heard it … the grapevine. How dreams disappear!«

»What goes around comes around, oh my deer.

You wallow in sorrow. I need to find love.

Farewell, mi amigo.« Away flew the dove.

Lonesome tomorrow. No heart to revere.

No footprints to follow. And on goes the deer.*

*

* Turtle Doves...

* Don't You Break My Heart Slow...

* If I Die Young...

Matjaž Lutarič - Lynx