happy 80th birthday mr nureyev.
who knew that the boy who was born on a train
with dancing would earn first his fame,
everywhere men and women overcame
by his moving grace and his beauteous frame.
who knew that the boy who was born on a train
would cause his country so much shame,
exchanging his loyalties for world wide acclaim
on the stages of europe where he made his name.
who knew that the boy who was born on a train
would live such a life for the art of ballet,
powerful leaps once toast’d with champagne
cut short by the curse of passion’s ill pain,
under this rug that his bones now contain,
lies he whose likes were few and will not be again.
