A Dance of Death
* * *
The king was sitting lonely
on his bench beneath a tree
He was staring at his castle
and behind it over the sea

The trees around him wearily
were shaking like in trance
bare branches waved like skeletons
a dance of death they danced

He saw it in the distance
the darkness in the sky
destruction was approaching
He felt a silent cry
A new age was about to be
born of this old in agony
Rolling thunder and waves so high
with the wind sang a mighty lullaby
The king was hugged by hopeless fear
this was the last waltz he would hear

His queen had starved that morning
like his people had before
He was the last man left there
no creatures lived, no more

the earth began to tremble
the castle had no chance
its stones fell down and bobbled
a dance of death they danced

Now nature's powers united
to play a final dirge
The wailing storms were howling
tunes without lyrics, not a word
Furious fires crackled rhythms
carrying out their purge
Along the raging waves roared out
a bourdon fit to merge
Thus bottled up he was aware
this was the last waltz that he heard

He was the king, he was aware
this was the last waltz that he heard
that was the last waltz he heard