JULIA
Julia pins up her hair
And twines a ringlet so
To make a phantom wedding band
But who would ever know?
She hangs a crystal in her ear
And traces on her brow
The curving of Infinity
She's consecrated now.
Oh Julia, my Julia
Why dost thou turn from me?
I would be thy tallyman
Beloved thou wouldst be.
Julia puts on her gown
And binds the girdle tight
To hold the breezes to her call
She'll loose them all tonight
She spins a coin upon the tile
And sets the silver by
A disc of bronze she takes instead
And lets the other lie.
Oh Julia, my Julia
Why dost thou spurn my coin?
I would be thy tallyman
Thy happiness enjoin.
Julia slips on her cloak
And wraps it close about
To muffle her to watching eyes
And hide what she's about
Beyond the door, away she steals
To find a standing stone
Beneath the moon she seeks a place
And tarries there alone.
Oh Julia, my Julia
Why dost thou wander there?
I would be thy tallyman
And hold thee in my care.
Julia removes her cloak,
Unbinds her flowing hair
Her gown and shift she lays aside
And oh, my love is fair
The moonlight silvers on her flanks
And washes o'er her breast
She dances gravely with the night
At cold Selene's request.
Oh Julia, my Julia
Why dost thou dance alone?
I would be thy tallyman
Not share thee with a stone.
Julia is clothed again,
Her lovely form is screened
Her slippers whisper in the dew
With mystery serene
In her room she pauses now
And sees me in her glass
She smiles and blows a kiss to me
As I pretend to pass.
Oh Julia, my Julia
What dost thou think of me?
I would be thy tallyman
For all the town to see.
But Julia, my faerie love
Thou know'st that I am weak
I choose to leave thee to the night
The truth I cannot seek.
Julia