The Pretenders by Manuel Avenido

            to Rodrigo, the Greatest Pretender

                      He stands like a solid edifice

            and walks with a herd of martyrs;

          From his mouth sprung scentless flowers

             of broken promises and prayers

           Clothed in white and in innocence,

                            his eyes a pool of lust and fire;

                        Oh! Beware. Pretender he is –

                  Thou shan’t fall from thy fragile knees!

                       He lives in a golden mansion

                         and shakes thine hand in the street,

                     offers thou his cup of fortune,

                       drowns thou to thy eternal sleep;

                    Thou art lured by his gracious smile

                      nor the silver coins on his palm;

                         Oh! Beware. Pretender he is –

                    Thou shan’t long for his falsehood bliss!

                        He exudes pure magnificence

                  of beauty and perfect romance;

                        Thou hail him in thine dark altar

                    Through the hour of thy madness

                  Embrace his decorated life

                      A fool thou see in the mirror;

                 Oh! Beware. Pretender he is –

                    Thou shan’t wait for his deathly kiss!

                He moves like a sculptured statue

                   but dances like a flower blown

                      Butterflies so tamed and deceived

                of his poisonous nectar juice;

                  Ladies, thou shall not be swindled

                     for he hath a heart same with yours;

               Oh! Beware. Pretender he is –