On a Grey Thread/To a Young Dancing Girl

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3909678On a Grey Thread1923Elsa Gidlow

To a Young Dancing Girl

Golden-eyed girl, do you see what I see?
Do you see behind the veil that Life
   laughs through?
Golden-eyed girl, I would like to laugh
   with you.
But my veil is torn, and I see things pass
Like shadows in the depths of a crystal glass.

Golden-eyed girl, you are young as springtime,
Your great eyes are dreamful, your rare
   lips sweet.
Shadows matter little to youth with dancing feet.
All of Life's skeletons wear gay dresses
And youth is deceived by even Death's caresses.

Golden-eyed girl, you have years to dance and
   wonder
Before your Life's curtain will wear into holes
And let you see the hopelessness hidden in souls.
You have many moons of laughter, many
   years to go
Before you'll learn how heavy dancing feet
   can grow.