He had dreams about his nightmares
Nightmares about his dreams
He dreamt he died in a raging fire
Heard Portugese death screams

Then the seas of life washed over him
And he was drowning in her arms
Rio de Janeiro, south americano charms

*** ***

He dreamed he was at Carnival
Fireworks lit the Rio sky
There were thousands dancing in the street
While the hotel burned nearby

On a ferris wheel in dreamland
Soave Bollo mastermind
He had nightmares in a Spanish world
That he tried to leave behind

Then the seas of life washed over him
As he pulled the fire alarms
Rio de Janeiro, south americano charms

*** ***

His fiery dream surrounded him
His mouth was all aflame
A moth flew thru the candle wick
To the frenzied crowd's acclaim

They say Rio in the summertime
Is like no place left on earth
The hotels there burn all night long
So you get your money's worth

Then the seas of life washed over him
He was drowning in her arms
Rio de Janeiro, south americano charms

*** ***

The hotel burned so violently
That he woke up from his dream
Smoke came pouring from his mouth
And his ears began to scream

He was captured by the artist
He was blinded by the smoke
He was painted in a corner
By Picasso's flaming stroke

Then the seas of life washed over him
As he pulled the fire alarms
Rio de Janeiro, south americano charms

*** ***

It was the summer that he dreamed about
The portrait in his head
In flaming reds and yellows
Lost forever, left for dead

If he could write like Papa Hemingway
If he could paint Picasso's heart
If he was not the father's son, he was
Could his own life pass for art

*** ***

It was the summer that he dreamed about
The hotel in Brazil
Hemingway flew down to Rio
And Picasso to Seville

On a ferris wheel in dreamland
Soave Bollo mastermind
He had nightmares in a Spanish world
That he tried to leave behind

© 1986 Harry Lipson