From: Songs of The Bride, Satyres.
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The Bride and the Monkey |
Listen, now you will hear one of her songs:
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The monkey who high in the sky
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jumps from branch to branch
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is my totem
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The monkey who low on the ground
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Screeches in groups
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Marches forward
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On a smooth path
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is my tabou
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The monkey who slowly and painfully
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Stands upright
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After a millions of years
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Is my totem
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The monkey who just like man
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suddenly engages in monkey business
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is my tabou
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The monkey imprisoned by us
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Rocketed into space
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Speechless and silent
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Who got his first impression
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Ahead of us
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That monkey is my example, my totem
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The monkey existing in darwinian space
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Who built himself a cage
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Whose experience comes always too late
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Whose aha! is always second rate
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That monkey is tabou.
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The monkey who sees himself in the mirror
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Laughs at his own tricks
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And refuses to resemble man
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I join in his laughter
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He is my totem
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I resemble him, gladly.
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The monkey wearing trousers
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And sporting a hat
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Who looks ceremonial
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When seeing himself
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In the mirror
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Who teaches me nothing
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Nor amuses me
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That monkey is tabou.
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One I gladly thrust
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Back into the shadows,
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The other sits on my shoulder as a companion
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And I might say: I follow you, Monkey God! (Hanuman)
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Off we go to the fair
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First to the labyrinth with the mirrors
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Which must be shattered before we exit.
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Off to the Ferris wheel!
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Off to the shooting gallery
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Where we carefully aim
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Right through the target
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Held before us
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At the bulls eye behind.
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The Prize we receive
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Cannot console us,
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And we continue
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on our way
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to superb enjoyment
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and inexpressible sorrow.
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