Death's Echo
W. H. Auden (1907 - 1973)
[Click here to view full poem]

A friend is the old old tale of Narcissus
Not to be born is the best for man
An active partner in something disgraceful
Change your partner, dance while you can.

The greater the love, the more false to its object
Not to be born is the best for man
After the kiss comes the impulse to throttle
Break the embraces, dance while you can.

The desires of the heart are as crooked as corkscrews
Not to be born is the best for man
The second-best is a formal order
The dance's pattern; dance while you can.

Dance, dance, for the figure is easy
The tune is catching and will not stop
Dance till the stars come down from the rafters
Dance, dance, dance till you drop.