Monday, February 12

* *Duet of the Women * *

…Sweet to ride forth at evening from the wells.
When shadows pass gigantic on the sand,
And softly through the silence beat the bells
Along the Golden Road to Samarkand.

We travel not for trafficking alone;
By hotter winds our piery hearts are fanned:
For lust of knowing what should not be known
We take the Golden Road to Samarkand…

I danced on the eve of battle
I sang for the men I’ve lost and loved
I was a princess, I was a queen
To my tribe I was free and beloved

I am wrapped in veils and robes
Bright rings on my fingers and toes
I am a mother, I am a wife
I am a woman with no enemies, no foes

We are the women of the sand
We are free and we are caged
Isolated islands, no foe, no friend
Waiting for others to turn our page

The concert of storms whips around
The magic of stars forsake our kind
Our lives, our loves, never to be found
Because fate is blind, oh she is blind

I defied him, I felt no fear
I endured them, I felt no pain
My pride trampled, my heart broken
But I will fight again

I look upon my sister
I am torn apart, conflicted
She is so strong, she is so brave
Am I to be forever a ‘woman’ depicted?

We are the women of the sand
We are free and we are caged
Isolated islands, no foe, no friend
Waiting for others to turn our page

The concert of storms whips around
The magic of stars forsake our kind
Our lives, our loves, never to be found
Because fate is blind, oh she is blind

Sweet to ride forth at evening from the wells.
When shadows pass gigantic on the sand,
And softly through the silence beat the bells
Along the Golden Road to Samarkand!

We travel not for trafficking alone;
By hotter winds our piery hearts are fanned:
For lust of knowing what should not be known
We take the Golden Road to Samarkand!

We are the women of the sand
We are free and we are caged
Isolated islands, no foe, no friend
Waiting for others to turn our page

The concert of storms whips around
The magic of stars forsake our kind
Our lives, our loves, never to be found
Because fate is blind, oh she is blind

We are the women of the sand
Isolated islands, no foe, no friend
Doomed to lifetime behind walls
We smile until the world falls…

Thus quoth Joie at 10:59 PM