A Tropical Romance

The scorching sun – in shocking pink –
Sinks down into the sea.
A special cachet does it lend
To Marianne and me

Beneath our private palm tree
As its final parting rays
Set fire to our cocktails
On their diamond-studded trays.

And very soon the bright blue moon
Is almost within reach;
The sirens sing a soulful tune
That echoes from the beach

But nicer far is Marianne
With music in her voice –
Her whisper is far clearer than
The loudest midnight noise

And all the sea falls silent
To hear what she will say:
The deep-sea fish come to the shore,
The fireflies light the way

To snakes and elephants galore
And hordes of buffaloes;
The peacocks, apes and crocodiles
Stand on each others’ toes

They’re lost in wonder at the sight,
Suspense cranks up its grip –
And there’s a shiver in the night
As out her dentures slip.