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!