Rigoletto – Mobile Verse Parody Verdi
In this opera by Verdi, with the choicest of libretti
ranging up to alto, down to double bass,
to avoid the nitty-gritty of the plot would be a pity,
so in nineteen stanzas scan the rhymes encased.
Scene is set in some fair city where the search for someone pretty
was the past-time of a Duke with time to waste,
he’s the subject of this ditty which runs true to subject, witty,
wise, and well within the boundaries of taste.
.
Now this Duke had roving eyes bright, marriage ties seemed to despise quite,
all affection had forgotten for Her Grace,
Countess Cipriano one night spies at a party, quickly tries tight
to encircle, during dancing, by fair waist.
Noting, not without surprise where, anger blazing through his eyes’ stare,
the Count in fury fumed at the unchaste, -
she appeared a pretty prize there, perfect in both features, size, fair
and, despite his presence, to the dance made haste.
So the Count became besotto at the ball while most were blotto
when taunted by the jester of the place,
who, by name of Rigoletto did the dirty work, you bet, - oh
adding insult to the injury bare faced.
Through his wit had Rigoletto, using aphorism, motto,
angered every grandee he with wit outfaced,
so the spurned Count Cipriano allied with his friend Marullo
jointly planning jester’s fall and swift disgrace.
For Marullo did discover secret visits to a dove, a
mistress to whose house the jester nightly paced,
when this fact he did unover planned to cary off the lover
and deliver to the Duke her dainty face.
Rigoletto had a daughter, there are many might have thought her
most angelical in crinoline and lace, -
for at church the Duke had sought her and forthwith began to court her,
caring little for her fortune or her race.
Gilda was her name, her mother having passed away, no other
close relation, uncle, brother, had been traced,
Rigoletto tried to smother GIlda’s wish for freedom, lover,
saying in his heart she could not be replaced.
But by opening his purse there Duke bribed Gilda’s worthless nurse, -
woman scarce deserving either trust or place,
thus he triggered off a curse the jealous courtiers did nurse,
leading to the maiden’s murder vile and base.
Thus the Duke would soon discover that the father of his lover
yet to be, his jester was, – as he embraced
Gilda, staying undercover, taking ‘student’ as a cover
for his occupation – how her young heart raced!
Then the courtisans all banded, underhandely commanded,
stole the Fool’s girl right before his banded face,
having kidnapped her they, candid, on the Duke’s fond lap soon landed
her - whose innocence was very soon debased.
When the jester understood all he went beserk beyond recall,
to a hired assassin hied him in his haste,
paid the gold and in a hold-all was to get Duke’s body cold-all,
to Verona meant to flee before the chase.
But the plot failed for pale Gilda having heard the bravo’s sister
plead for mercy for the man she would enlace,
gave her own life for her lover, while he - messing with another -
never missed her as he kissed her rival’s face!
There the harlot earns her copper while ingénue comes a cropper -
falls from rosy fable into sable bier.
As the former tricks her supper, fixes liquor lacing cuppa,
virtue spurned, seduced’s, reduced to souvenir.
So while singing ‘light and jolly is the mind of every molly’
ruthless villain did in Gilda, - dire disgrace!
Yet the fates of fair young dolly facing plutocrats with lolly
scarcely vary though it’s scary through time, place.
Thus instead of brigand stabbing Duke ‘twas Gilda he was nabbing,
unbeknown to Rigoletto, - sad’s the case.
When discovered, both fell blabbing, daughter dying near dark cabin
where (b) randy dandy Duke found fond embrace.
Now the moral of this story, which is somewhat sad and gory,
is that sacrifice and love are Woman’s place,
bending to Man’s whim is glory, for He knows what’s best – a law he
would have obeyed throughout the human race!
Here we end this tale of living, trust the reader is forgiving
errors all that fall unto the ear or eye,
time to other verses giving we shall go despite misgiving
leaving two short words to wish all here “good bye”!
poem by Jonathan Robin
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
No comments until now.