cimorene

if time is a circle, then in the circling of time
i came to the highway in a midnight of rain,
another soldier of confusion in a murderous clime,
another prisoner of misfortune with no word to explain.

so i made for the border and i watched for a light,
and i was thinking iw as lost when i first heard her voice,
so when she asked me to trust her i thought that i might,
though i knew from the beginning that i really had no choice.

and she said that she could tell i was a desperate man,
but she pleaded she was caught in some bad situations,
and she said that every one of us must do what he can,
and if i did my best for her, she'd return the obligation.

at the edge of the hurricane, only hunger makes sense,
and though i knew i really shouldn't, still i rode where she called,
i surrendered my suspicions to the brittling winds
and the next thing i knew, i knew nothing at all.

she is the lady of diamonds, she is the lady of ice,
mysterious enchantress, the madonna of sorrows,
and when she calls you to find her you cannot think twice
for what she says once will mean nothing tomorrow.

so i came to a tower all of glittering white,
and when i saw her in her window i prayed for control,
her hysterical radiance unravelled my sight
as the fingertips of her beauty touched ice to my soul.

and i stood before her silence like a thief caught in flight,
there was thunder in the road, all the hillsides were shaken,
i said "lady you have called me, i have travelled all night",
and she smiled as she replied "i believe you are mistaken".

and i stood beneath her window like a scarecrow in rags,
with my heart in my hands, with the rain in my eyes,
and when i asked her for mercy she cursed me and laughed,
and her laughter was diamonds and her voice was like ice.

and i stood within her shadow like an angel in chains,
there was a wicked storm coming, i was more dead than alive,
and as i turned to find the highway i asked her for a word,
and as she barred up her window she whispered "survive".

now there's a cold wind blowing and it cuts me like a knife
as i remember her face and i call back those hours,
and i count the man lucky who escapes with his life
from the casual cruelties of ladies in towers.

she is the lady of diamonds, glad lady of lies,
proud mistress of ruins with a conjuror's heart,
and if she calls you to dance you had better think twice,
for in intricate pieces she will tear you apart.

but if time is a circle, then in a circling of time
i expect that that woman is going to call me again,
and as i listen for her voice, still i'm wishing she'd find
some other highway in the midnight,
some other desolation soldier
for her hollow crucifixions,
another rider in the rain.