Edna Sweetlove

Jan 29, 2020 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

The Leprosy Tango

THIS IS THE LEPROSY TANGO. Imagine a lepers' hospital somewhere in the jungle; it's St Valentines Day and everyone is looking for love. The music begins and a solo voice rises up tunefully...

Leprosy!
I think I've got leprosy;
At least the doctors
Assure me it's so.

CHORUS
Oh! Oh! Oh!

Leprosy!
I'm pleased I've got leprosy;
At least for the moment,
Till my privy parts go.

One by one my bits
And pieces, they drop off
And I must be so careful
Whenever I cough.

CHORUS
Yes! Yes! Yes!

Leprosy!
Oh yes, I have leprosy
And I'm so happy
'Cos it's a great way to go.

CHORUS
Olé!

About This Poem

Last Few Words: These are some revised lyrics for that well known tango "Jealousy" written in the early years of the 20th century by Ernesto Lecuona (1895-1963). I used to have a 78 record of this played by the Mantovani Orchestra - my dog (a Pyrenean Mountain bitch) went into a frenzy when she heard it - clearly the solo violin mjust have sounded like a fellow Pyrenean calling for a mate. Listen to the music and sing-a-longa Edna! Here's the original recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7btl5MZRa9Y (you'll need to cut and paste it)

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?

Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: London, Culture Capital of the World

Favorite Poets: Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, Chaucer, Shakespeare to name but a few. And VERY IMPORTANTLY: Erich Fried, a leftwing Austrian of Jewish ancestry who fled the Nazis and became a British citizen in 1949., And, other writers (non-poets mainly): Raymond Chandler, Irvine Welsh, Anthony Burgess, Graham Greene, Charles Bukowski, John le Carré, Anthony Horowitz, Mick Herron, Margaret Attwood, Edna O'Brian, Maeve Binchy., Writers who I find vastly over-rated: TS Eliot, Virgina Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Phil Larkin, E.A. Poe, A. Ginsburg, Longfellow, Gerald Manley Hopkins (actually I LOATHE Hopkins more than damson-dappled words can say).

Comments

Geezer

5 years 9 months ago

The title...

certainly got my attention! As per usual, I was intrigued by your humor. The rhythm matched the music very well and could be the basis for a Monty Python skit. I am not a big fan of Leprosy per se, but an interesting topic to say the least. ~ Geezer.
.

Edna Sweetlove

5 years 9 months ago

Thankyou

...for your continued commenting in the face of our different senses of humour.
.

Sparrow 42

5 years 9 months ago

Edna

A good write,
want to know if this is going to be serialised or just in several parts.
Take care have a great day,
Yours Ian ..

Edna Sweetlove

5 years 9 months ago

Serialised?

That's a fantastic idea!

But I was thinking of a dance themed series...
...The Diarrheoia Waltz
...The Incontinence FoxTrot
...The Syphilis Samba
...The Tetanus Twostep.

and so on.
.

samary

5 years 9 months ago

Leprosy

Rhythm pattern pacing spot on.
Lovely punctuation.
Subject matter ridiculous and not imo humorous.
But that is your style Edna I think to be provocative, and to get people thinking. But for me this is a total turn off. A fun idea but lousy subject matter.

Edna Sweetlove

5 years 9 months ago

Provocative?

Moi?
.

samary

5 years 9 months ago

Provocative?

Yes, you! If that is not the intention it is certainly very effective. Am laughing here. Sam.

Edna Sweetlove

5 years 9 months ago

I own up...

...slightly.