Dorothy Parker
Salome's Dancing-Lesson
She that begs a little boon
(Heel and toe! Heel and toe!)
Little gets- and nothing, soon
(No, no, no! No, no, no!)
She that calls for costly things
Priceless finds her offerings
What's impossible to kings?
(Heel and toe! Heel and toe!)

Kings are shaped as other men
(Step and turn! Step and turn!)
Ask what none may ask again
(Will you learn? Will you learn?)
Lovers whine, and kisses pall
Jewels tarnish, kingdoms fall
Death's the rarest prize of all!
(Step and turn! Step and turn!)

Veils are woven to be dropped
(One, two, three! One, two, three!)
Aging eyes are slowest stopped
(Quietly! Quietly!)
She whose body's young and cool
Has no need of dancing-school
Scratch a king and find a fool!
(One, two, three! One, two, three!)