A girl of eastern beauty at a table by the door
An acrobatic Persian performs his tricks across the floor
A uniformed old soldier tired and bloodied from a war
Looks around remembering he’s deserted a foreign corps
Extravagant concoctions of liquors, exotic fruits
And flesh prepared with flavours of the Great Seljuk spice route
A dozen painted courtesans transported from Beirut
While a charming man enchants a snake with a tune from his magic flute
Gazing ‘cross the parlour, scything dense tobacco smoke
The room entombs with plumes of fumes, exhaust from toxic toke
I watched the girl in silence, not a single word she spoke
Then tremors quaking in my heart as a sultry smile she broke
A signal through the murkiness, a message to invite
To join her in her alcove, for us to dance away the night
And when the club was closing I would grasp her hand so tight
To stay with her in paradise ‘til the break of the morning light