Rumba

The climax of passion, the dancers are trembling

and ecstasy presses José to the ground.

The Bongo is thundering and in a mad whirl

the daemon has broken Tomasa’s limbs.

Piqui-tiqui-pan, piqui-tiqui-pan!

Piqui-tiqui-pan, piqui-tiqui-pan!

The blackish Tomasa now falls to the ground

and down also falls Che Encarnacion.

there they are rolling, convulsing, and switching,

with whirling drum and raging Bongo

the rumba now fades with con-con-co-mabo!

And pa-ca, pa-ca, pa-ca, pa-ca!

Pam!  pam!  Pam!

Jose Zacarias Tallet