Johnny

O the valley in the summer where I and my John
Beside the deep river would walk on and on
While the flowers at out feet and birds up above
Argued so sweetly on reciprocal love,
And I leaned on his shoulder; "O, Johnny, let's play":
But he frowned like thunder and he went away.

O that Friday near Christmas as I well recall
When we went to the Charity Matinee Ball.
The floor was so smooth and band so loud
And Johnny so handsome I felt so proud;
"Squeeze me tighter, dear Johnny, let's dance till it's day:
But he frowned like thunder and he went away.

Shall I ever forget at the grand opera
When music poured out of each wonderful star?
Diamonds and pearls they hung dazzling down
Over each silver or golden silk gown;
"O John I'm in heaven," I whispered to say:
Be he frowned like thunder and he went away.

O but he was as fair as a garden in flower,
As slender and tall as the great Eiffel Tower,
When the waltz throbbed out on the long promenade
O his eyes and his smile they went straight to my heart;
'O marry me, Johnny, I'll love and obey':
But he frowned like thunder and he went away.

O last night I dreamed of you. Johnny, my lover,
You'd the sun on one arm and the moon on the other,
The sea it was blue and the grass it was green,
Every star rattled a round tambourine;
Ten thousand miles deep in a pit there I lay:
But you frowned like thunder and you went away.

W. H. Auden, "Selected Poetry--Everyman Series".

Le Pont Mirabeau

Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine
Et nos amours
Faut-it qu'il m'en souvienne
La joie venait toujours après la peine.

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les jours s'en vont je demeure

Les mains dans les mains restons face à face
Tandis que sous
Le pont de nos bras passe
Des eternels regards l'onde si lasse

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les Jours s'en vont je demeure

L'amour s'en va comme cette eau courante
L'amour s'en va
Comme la vie est lente
Et comme l'Esperance est violente

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les Jours s'en vont je demeure

Passent les jours et passent les semaines
Ni temps passe

Ni les amours reviennent
Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine