A Little Night Music : Now / Later / Soon

Now, as the sweet imbecilities

Tumble so lavishly

Onto her lap

Oh, Frederik

What a day it's been!

Unending drama

Now, there are two possibilities

A, I could ravish her

B, I could nap

That grumpy old Miss Nordstrom from next door

Her sister's coming for a visit

Say it's the ravishment, then we see

The option that follows, of course

I do hope I'm imperious enough with the servants

I try to be, but half the time I think they're laughing at me

A, The deployment of charm, or

B, The adoption of physical force

(And I've been jabbering on for hours) Now, B might arouse her

But if I assume I trip on my trouser

Leg crossing the room

I can't tell you how boring it was!

Her hair getting tangled

Her stays getting snapped

My nerves would be jangled

My energy sapped

You should've seen Mrs. Anning in the fishmonger's!

Removing her clothing

Would take me all day

And her subsequent loathing

Would turn me away

Which eliminates B

And which leaves us with A

Could you ever be jealous of me?

Could you? Like - the more offense

Now, insofar as approaching it

What would be festive

But have its effect?

Shall I learn Italian?

I think it'd be amusing

If the verbs aren't too irregular

Now, there are two ways of broaching it

A, the suggestive

And B, the direct

But then, French is a much chicer language

Everyone says so! Parlez-vous Francais?

Say that I settle on B, to wit

A charmingly lecherous mood

I know you like my hair this way, but

On top of my head, like a siren

A, I could put on my nightshirt or sit

Disarmingly, B, in the nude

Oh, Frederik, you should've seen-

That might be effective

My body's all right--

But not in perspective

And not in the light

Poor Henrik! How comical he looked

I'm bound to be chilly

And feel a buffoon

But nightshirts are silly

In mid-afternoon

Why are virtuous people so stingy?

Which leaves the suggestive

But how to proceed?

Although she gets restive

Perhaps I could read

(He gave the coachman the tiniest tip!) In view of her penchant

For something romantic

De Sade is too trenchant

And Dickens too frantic

And Stendhal would ruin

The plan of attack

As there isn't much blue in "The Red and the Black."

(The poor man) De Maupassant's candour

Would cause her dismay

The Brontes are grander

But not very gay

Her taste is much blander

I'm sorry to say

But is Hans Christian Andersen ever risque?

Which eliminates A

And he said, "You're such a pretty lady!"

Wasn't that silly of me?

Now, with my mental facilities

Partially muddied

And ready to snap

I'm sure about the bracelet, but earrings -

Earrings, which earrings?

Now, though there are possibilities

Still to be studied, I might as well nap

Mother's rubies? Oh, the diamonds are - agony -

Bow

Though I must

To adjust

My original plan

Desiree Armfeldt

I just know she wears the most glamorous gowns

How shall I sleep

Half as deep

As I usually can?

Dear, distinguished old Frederik

Where now I still want and or love you

Now as always

Now, Anne?

Oh Henrik, dear, don't you have anything less gloomy to practice?

It isn't gloomy

It's profound

Well

Can't you be profound later?

Later

When is later?

All you ever hear is "Later, Henrik"

"Henrik, later"

"Yes, we know, Henrik

Oh, Henrik, everyone agrees, Henrik, please, Henrik!"

You have a thought you're fairly bursting with

A personal discovery or problem, and it's

"What's your rush, Henrik?"

"Shush, Henrik!"

"Goodness, how you gush, Henrik!"

"Hush, Henrik!"

You murmur

"I only-- It's just that--"

"For God's sake, later, Henrik!"

"Henrik... Who is Henrik?

Oh, that lawyer's son, the one who mumbles

Short and boring

Yes, he's hardly worth ignoring

And who cares if he's all damned--"

I beg your pardon--

"Up inside?"

As I've often stated

It's intolerable being tolerated

"Reassure Henrik

Poor Henrik

Henrik, you'll endure

Being pure, Henrik."

Though I've been born, I've never been!

How can I wait around for later?

I'll be ninety on my deathbead

And the late, or, rather, later, Henrik Egerman

Doesn't anything begin?

Soon, I promise

Soon, I won't shy away

Dear old--

Soon, I want to

Soon, whatever you say

Even now

When you're close and we touch

And you're kissing my brow

I don't mind it too much

And you'll have to admit I'm endearing

I help keep things humming

I'm not domineering--

What's one small shortcoming?

And think of how I adore you

Think of how much you love me

If I were perfect for you

Wouldn't you tire of me?

Soon

All too soon

Dear old--

Henrik, that racket! Your father's sleeping. Later

Soon (Later)

I promise

When is later?

Soon

Later

I won't shy away (Henrik, later, all you ever hear is)

Yes we know Henrik, oh Henrik

(Everyone agrees, Henrik, please Henrik) Dear old--

Soon (Now) (Later)

I want to (As the sweet imbecilities) (When is later, all you ever hear is)

(Trip from my trouser leg) Soon (later)

(Stendhal eliminates) (Henrik, later) Whatever you

(A.) Say (stated)

When (even) Maybe

Now

Soon, soon (later)

When you're close

And we touch

I'll be ninety and dead

When I'm (you're) kissing your (my) brow

And I'm stroking your head

I don't mind it

Too much

You'll come into my bed

And you'll have to admit

I'm endearing (I find peering) (I've been hearing)

I help (Through life's) (All those tremulous cries)

Keep things humming (Grey windows)

Impatiently (Patiently)

I'm not (not)

Domineering (very cheering) (interfering)

What's one (Do I fear death?) (With those tremulous thighs)

Small shortcoming?

And think of how I adore you (Now)

(Now) Think of how much you love me

(Now) (Soon) If I were perfect for you

(Now) (Soon) Wouldn't you tire of me?

Later? (Come to me soon)

We will (If I'm dead) (straight to me)

Later (I can wait) (Never mind how)

We will (How can I live) (Darling, now)

Soon (Until later?) (Now)

I still want and or love you (later) (soon)

Now as always (later) (soon)

Now

Desiree!