| |
| SKIN creamy as the furled magnolia bud | |
| That stabs the dusky shadows of her hair; | |
| Great startled eyes, and sudden-pulsing blood | |
| Staining her cheek and throat and shoulder bare. | |
| |
| (Ah Manuelita! | 5 |
| Lita Pepita! | |
| List the cachucha! | |
| Dance! dance!) | |
| |
| Swaying she stands, the while one rounded arm | |
| Draws her mantilla’s folds in sky disguise, | 10 |
| Till in the music’s subtle, quickening charm | |
| Her trancëd soul forgets the alien eyes. | |
| |
| Fades the swift flush, save from the rose-soft mouth, | |
| And all the conquering memories of Spain | |
| Fling wide her veil; the vintage of the South | 15 |
| Leaps in her heart, and laughs through every vein! | |
| |
| (Ah Manuelita! | |
| Star of Cordova! | |
| Passion and innocence! | |
| Dance! dance!) | 20 |
| |
| Gone from her gaze the stage, the mimicry: | |
| Yon painted scene? It is Cordova’s walls! | |
| The eager trumpets ring to revelry— | |
| The banderillero cries—the toro falls! | |
| |
| The vision thrills to heart, to eyes, to lips; | 25 |
| Her castanets click out in conscious pride; | |
| Curved throat, arched foot, and lissome-swaying hips, | |
| The music sweeps her in its swirling tide. | |
| |
| Love and denial, mockery and desire, | |
| A fountain tossing in its moody play, | 30 |
| Tempest of sunshine, cloud, and dew, and fire, | |
| Dancing in joyance to the jocund day! | |
| |
| (Ah Manuelita! | |
| Till the moon swoons in mist! | |
| Till the stars dim and die! | 35 |
| Dance! dance!) | |
| |
| Soft! through the music steals a yearning strain,— | |
| Now distant viols grieve down the drowsy night,— | |
| Her fluttering feet are poised, then drift again, | |
| Luring in languor, dreamy with delight. | 40 |
| |
| (Ah Manuelita! | |
| Witch of the wingëd feet! | |
| Lead on to dream or death! | |
| Dance! dance!) | |
| |
| Hushed in her heart are raptures and alarms; | 45 |
| Falling, as water falleth, to her knees, | |
| She spreads the drifted foam-wreath of her arms; | |
| The music dies in whispered ecstacies. | |
| |
