The sound of softest silk as it slides on silken skin
The whisper of the sword unsheathed, a silver quiet sin
Each dancer moves into their place with smooth and silent supple grace
No trace of feelings on each face, now watch each blade begin
Swords gleaming in the sun as they parry feint and thrust
The dancers weave, no quarter asked as swordplay grows robust
Each dancer moves with arm and sword each dancing to an unheard chord
Which one will reap the grim reward of falling into dust?
Chorus:
The Dance of the Blade is a dance of silk and steel
The Dance of the Blade is a beauty uncompared
The Dance of the Blade has no question who will yield
The Dance of the Blade only shows who will be spared
Each movement in the dance has a mesmerising grace
The movements may be fast or slow but hold a steady pace
The flashing steel does not distract from dancing in this deadly pact
For every dancer knows this fact: that Death is the disgrace
The dancer who was paid wields the sword with deadly skill
The duelist's face is hidden from the watchers of this drill
Who is the dancer sheathed in silk as pale and smooth as mother's
milk?
Onlookers only know their ilk from legends of the kill
Chorus
And when the dance is done only one is still alive
It always is the one in silk who will the dance survive
The dancer twirls with silk and steel to rhythms no-one else can feel
But in the end know this is real: only the living thrive
Ask not who is the dancer for the knowing is too dear
You may only learn the secret if your dancing knows no peer
Should you survive your dancer you may yet find out an answer
But the truth will eat like cancer and will only bring you fear
Chorus
The Sword and Silken Dancers are a group survived by few
For their dancers are unequalled and they have a lethal crew
If you survive their silk and steel and live to see another meal
You've made it through the last appeal and then it's silk for you
Chorus
Jacob Sommer
September 5, 2000