Camilla

An Ode To Jessica Tandy

(written after watching the movie "Camilla"1995)

'Tis twain I've passed your way and learned an older wisdom

Immense treasure of seasoned mind and soul

Extraordinary woman more beautiful now with age.

She would have bathed in oils!

She would have come dressed in a silken robe!

He would have waited for her in the bed,

Smoking black cigarettes from Bohemia.

She would have stood at the foot of the bed

He would have stared!

…puffing on his black cigarette from Bohemia.

He never really smoked!

Turn down the lamp to crawl naked into bed

And openly caress small breasts with nipples translucent and light

He would have left the lamp on, he wanted to look at her!

The lamp stays on so that we might see.

We go back to before

We all go back to before

And know that we should have come

Ah!  We should have come!

I go back to before

And walk merrily down a gravel, country road

With Mexican hat perched on my head in jaunty, flirting manner

And I take the hand of the love-stricken boy

And I never, ever let go.

 "She goes down to the seas again

To the vagrant Gypsy life

To the gull's way and the whale's way

And the wind's like a whetted knife

And all we ask is a merry yarn

From a laughing fellow rover

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream

When the long trick's over"

   (quote from the movie, “Camilla”)

For life is but a trick

And we are here on stage

To play our part and learn our lines…

Grow more talented with age!

And age is the best gift

For with time we master all

And in the last closing scene

We're the fairest at the ball!

So dance Camilla in the clouds!

And wear your silken robe

Feel golden with your pretty breasts

And play your violin old

For age is where most beauty is

And where we all must stray…

 Finally the last chord is struck

In Wisdom's arms we stay.

cailin raine