The Dead Waltz
I saw your daughter yesterday
as I was idle on the porch
she slept-walked from your house down the walkway
as though she'd done it all before
and the moon was out
and in her gown beside the riverbed
she got down on her knees
and wrapped her long hair up in vines, and leaves, and branches
and with the wind beneath her feet
oh, she waltzed with the dead
and everything was bathed
in light white as milk
as the impossible began
she danced across the water's edge
but her feet, they didn't sink
as though she flew
I ran out in the water
with a lantern in my hand
I was waste deep and shivering
I took her wrist and walked her in
I was loathe to interrupt her
but I had to get her home
if people were to see thisthey'd gather up, raise hell and burn her alive
don't you mind, don't you mind
she'll be fine
tie a bell around her ankle
before she lays down at night
and the sound of her footsteps
will wake me in time
don't you mind, don't you mind
I'll watch over her
as though she were mine
El Vals de los Muertos
Vi a tu hija ayer
mientras estaba ocioso en el porche
ella caminaba dormida desde tu casa por el sendero
como si ya lo hubiera hecho antes
y la luna estaba afuera
y en su vestido junto al lecho del río
se arrodilló
y envolvió su larga cabellera en enredaderas, hojas y ramas
y con el viento bajo sus pies
oh, bailó con los muertos
y todo estaba bañado
en una luz blanca como la leche
mientras lo imposible comenzaba
ella bailaba en el borde del agua
pero sus pies, no se hundían
como si volara
Corrí hacia el agua
con una linterna en mi mano
estaba hasta la cintura y temblando
tomé su muñeca y la llevé
me costaba interrumpirla
pero tenía que llevarla a casa
si la gente veía esto, se reunirían, armarían un escándalo y la quemarían viva
déjalo estar, dale
estará bien
atar una campana a su tobillo
antes de que se acueste por la noche
y el sonido de sus pasos
me despertará a tiempo
déjalo estar, dale
la cuidaré
como si fuera mía