Retain The Mystery

There are many people
willing to tell you what tango is
Listen to them all
Don't believe any of them
Then, when you're full
and you've sifted through it all
weighed the contradictions
tested the theories
decide for yourself
Better yet
stay with the question
Tango
like Love
and God
should remain a mystery.

vientos y tangos

cold dawn slumbers on, unaware

of the baton preparing to strike . . .

dead, forgotten leaves rustling softly together,

declare the threshold of a new day.

this subtle chime awakens one tree,

then another . . . all listening intently

to a mellifluous saxophone melody.

 

as each bud awakens, another color brightens the sky,

vibrant violet, sapphiric blue, passionate red, brilliant gold.

more and more colors emerge, growing

into an overwhelming explosion of silence.

 

confidently, bass clarinet engages the dance

the sun's warmth invigorating his steps.

branches lightly graze one another

too innocent to recognize impulsive lust until

english horn and saxophone enunciate

the tango.

     saxophone, slicked-hair, smirked-lips, struts forward

      english horn steps back

     regardless, he pursues

      faintly, she encourages

     saxophone whirls elegant horn legs round

      their melting bodies

     draw together

      spread apart

promenading round one another fiercely

eyes melt in fire

lingering hands caressing

every inch of their form

     quick flurs

      slow embraces

     passion play of fervor

      and denial

sensual prurience consumes

their extravagant dance.

 

bassoons gossip, aghast, first inaudibly

then grow, hysterically. all stop dancing

frightened of intense, forbidden desire.

frightened of a simple dance.

 

undaunted, one branch embraces another,

bass clarinet requesting trumpet to dance

just once more. indulge

she tries denying herself

careless jubilation

heat of the noon-sun

encourages her

she accepts.

 

rebellious,

trees resume their dance

now hypnotized,

entranced,

without restraint.

branches mingle,

flute entangles with saxophone.

trees conduct the skies into

frenzied rhythms,

clashing chords,

absolute chaotic dancing

continuously crescendoing

branches become one

twirls, dips,

flutter of skirts,

prancing, cavorting,

dovetailing synchronically,

swiveling hips,

entwining legs,

spinning to and fro,

fierce frenzy,

Caliente! Caliente!

everything blurs together

on the brink of ambrosia, until

suddenly

the sun

starts

setting.

 

the baton slows, restrains the tango.

clarinet sadly sings as the wind dies

hindering trees into carved figures.

the wind diminuendos, into an almost nothingness

english horn ends the dance – takes her bow –

but still slowly, softly mourning

the end of her exuberant dance

so close to frivolity

mirth

yet, the new dawn will bring more wind

closer to

another tango.

Heart holding hands

When we dance you and I alone

Moving and turning together

To music of the Bandoneon

 

The discovery the passion begins to start

Hands holding hearts

 

Manos tenecia corazones

 

Another song is danced

To a Milonga rhythm

You give me a smiling glance

 

To understand the passion of another land

Hearts holding hands

 

Corazones tenecia manos

 

When again the violin begins to play

I realize your beauty even more

You pull me close as if to say

 

Don't think twice

In this dance

We have found paradise

 

Mi bailarin hermosa

Alfredo Escalero