Leave This City

I danced with the hoodlum priestess, in the temple of the sacred pool. The candles burned down low and jasmine incense from censors, filled the night. While attendents at the altars, worried prayer beads and chanted sacred rhymes. The daughters of the moon veiled their faces, and led me to the sea; the sea. That night in the mighty City, after a day at the bizarre, I conveyed myself- To the "Gates Of Cerdes" inn. Minstrels sang sagas by the fire; I lounged outside. Dancing bears and mummers made merry in the courtyard 'neath starlight; Against the city wall I sat and, sharpened my dagger upon a stone. Patricians and visors rode King's high way, whores with tinkling bells walked alley-ways. Any ragged beggar, with two teeth or more, fed on penny bowls of roasted rat. There were vampires lurked among the trees and werewolves nestled in the eaves. Spirits walked the earth in the dark and scattered flowers and, sang in the night. The wine dark waters did roil and rumble, storm clouds boiled up in the sky. Within the vault of night lovers did pluck and strum and stoke on lute strings; Serenades and sonnets saluted vestigal virgins, abed in perfumed budiors. And, this ancient City of enigma and riddle lay coiled, like a serpent wearing new skin. Come away with me my love; Steal away, journey with me. We will cross the mystic mountains, To fertile, verdant vales below. All who knew will question "whence?" The sinister City will never know