UNMASKED

Music of the Night

Gerard Butler

UnMasked

Alas! I am undone! I said

You've snared me in your arms

You've caught me and I have acquiesced

To the magnetic pull of your charms.

For your eyes have caressed me

All night as I danced

And drawn me here now 

To the thrill of romance.

Take off your mask!

You said in my ear

And I had refused

As though I couldn't hear

And my hair hid me further

As it tumbled and fell

And you grasped me

And pulled me and I tumbled as well.

You danced me down the corridor

As the the musicians softly played

Pulled me into a room and locked the door

I do not know you, sir, I said

I was breathless, pale and frightened

But I did not want to go

I wanted to know why I wanted you

A total stranger I did not know.

Oh, but you do! You whispered

You just don't remember yet

So many times we've played this game

And you always do forget.

For I have visited you often

In visions and in dreams

Written you sonnets and letters

And songs that you could sing.

Painted you landscapes

 And roses, it's true

And thousands of portraits

My love, all of you.

I do not know you, sir, I don't

I've never seen your face

Though there is something in your eyes, 

Your voice, that I can't place.

Take off your mask? I asked of him

But he just bowed his head

Then all the light fled from his eyes

And looked at me, cold and dead.

I pulled away but he pursued

Took me by the hand

Pulled me tight against his chest

And the battle then began

I fought to keep my dignity

Though my dignity had gone

And when his lips trailed down my neck

I knew I stood alone.

Who are you, sir? I begged of him

My head against his shoulder

My heart was racing, my blood was pumping

And he grew even bolder

I am he, he said, He whom you love

And have for all of time 

How can that be? I laughed, kissing him

And his mouth tasted just like wine.

And then I twirled and pushed him away

Ran to the fireplace and cried

You are mad! I exclaimed, You are mad and mistaken!

I do not know you, sir! You've lied!

You will see me again! he said, coming toward me

Pulled me against him, kissed me hard on the lips

And my body betrayed me and pushed in to his

And a strange thrusting motion took over my hips.

What am I doing? I cried aloud

What is this thing you've done to me?

I know no man, nor have I kissed one!

(You are not blind but you cannot see.)

He said in answer, 

Striding toward the door

Then bowed and left me

Alone once more.

I waited minutes, then an hour

I waited for what, I did not know

I collapsed in tears upon the rug

And then at last, I rose to go

The ball was ending, the sun was rising

My father's coach waited at the door

I looked around to see the stranger

But his presence was not there anymore.

Then we drove away

As darkness was dying

While the orchestra still played

In the pale morning light

I hugged myself, smiling

 As we left it behind us

And I danced to the music

 Floating there in the night.

Sad days passed and long, lonely nights full of writhing

Of sleeplessness, fear and my poor heartache's pain

I wrote some letters, made some quiet inquiries

And longed to feel his mouth kiss me again.

But there was nothing and no one knew of him

The handsome man with whom I'd danced

My friends were giddy and hid their laughter

And teased me about my 'great romance'.

Then one night he visited me in a dream

A dream so sweet and yet so strange

He looked so different and yet I knew him

And he held me close and spoke my name.

You are mine, he said, and always will be

Promise you'll wait till you see me again

Promise me this, that you'll remember my kiss

And give your sweet love to no other man.

And I promised him that

And I promised him always

As he touched me and kissed me

All night till the dawn.

And we couldn't hold back

As we gave in to passion

But when morning came calling

He was already gone.

I saw him no more for many a year

At no ball or hall or even in dreams

And he slipped out of my faulty memory at last

And into realms of pure fantasy, or so it seems.

As I grew up from girl to woman

And then to lady who should be wed

I wanted to share my heart with someone

And share my life and share my bed.

My friends all married and moved away

Each with their dream and life and plan

My parents pushed me out into society

And bade me go, find myself a man.

But there was no one to catch my eye

No one to make my heart beat fast

I teased and taunted men I never wanted

And played at love that would not last.

And then one day as I arrived home

Arms full of packages from my many trips

A tall handsome stranger with deep dark eyes

Grabbed me and kissed me upon my lips

Unhand me, sir! I shouted, fearful

My packages flying, I failed to see

Who could be so bold to assault a lady

And then he laughed and said, It's me.

That voice, that voice! I knew that voice!

Those eyes so merry and full of light

But I was confused for no stranger stood there

But the man I had loved in my dreams one sweet night.

Do I know you, sir? I asked him, puzzled

Oh yes, you do! he shook his head

I danced with you at a long ago ball

But the man that I was then is long gone and dead.

How can that be? I scoffed at his fable

You are standing here talking this fine August morn!

And he sighed and he told me the strangest thing yet

For the love of you, I will always be ever reborn.

And we shared our lives and loved each other

Inseparable for many years

We had our good times and our bad times

We had our laughter and our tears.

Then one sad, sad day, he had to leave me

And he flew away then like the wind

I held him tightly till he said, Let go, love 

One day I'll find your face again.

©by Voo

Feb 5, 2019

1:50 a.m.

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