Rigoletto – Mobile Verse Parody Verdi Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

In this opera by Verdi, with the choicest of libretti
ranging up to alto, down to double bass,
to avoid the nitty-gritty of the plot would be a pity,
now in nineteen stanzas scan rhymes interlaced.

Scene is set in some fair city where the search for someone pretty
was the past-time of a Duke with time to waste,
he’s the subject of this ditty which runs true to subject, witty,
wise, and well within the boundaries of taste.

Now this Duke had roving eyes bright, marriage ties seemed to despise quite,
all affection had forgotten for Her Grace,
Countess Cipriano one night spies at party, banters, quickly tries tight
to encircle, during dancing, spousal waist.

Noting, not without surprise where, anger blazing through his eyes’ stare,
the Count in fury fumed at the unchaste, -
she appeared a pretty prize there, perfect in both features, size, fair
and, despite his presence, to the dance made haste.

Swiftly Count became besotto at the ball while most were blotto
when taunted by the jester of the place,
who, by name of Rigoletto did the dirty work, you bet, - oh
adding insult to the injury bare faced.

Through his wit had Rigoletto, using aphorism, motto,
angered every grandee he with wit outfaced,
so betrayed Count Cipriano allied with his friend Marullo
jointly planned our humpbacked jester’s dire disgrace.

For Marullo had discovered secret visits to a dove, a
mistress to whose house the jester nightly paced,
when this fact he did uncover planned to carry off the lover
due deliver to nude Duke prude's dainty face.

Rigoletto had a daughter, there are many might have thought her
most angelical in crinoline and lace,
at Sunday church Duke sought her and forthwith began to court her,
caring little for her fortune or her race.

Gilda was her name, her mother having passed away, no other
close relation, uncle, brother, had been traced,
Rigoletto tried to smother GIlda’s wish for freedom, lover,
saying in his heart she could not be replaced.

But by opening his purse there Duke bribed Gilda’s worthless nurse, -
woman scarce deserving either trust or place,
thus he triggered off a curse the jealous courtiers did nurse,
leading to fair maiden’s murder vile and base.

Then the courtisans all banded, underhandely commanded,
stole the Fool’s girl right before his banded face,
having kidnapped her they, candid, on the Duke’s fond lap soon landed
her - whose innocence was very soon debased.

When the jester understood all he went beserk beyond recall,
to a hired assassin hied him in his haste,
paid the gold and in a hold-all was to get Duke’s body cold-all,
to Verona meant to flee before the chase.

But the plot failed for pale Gilda having heard the bravo’s sister
plead for mercy for the man she would enlace,
gave her own life for her lover, while he - messing with another -
never missed her as he kissed her rival’s face!

There the harlot earns her copper while ingénue comes a cropper -
falls from rosy fable into sable bier.
As the former tricks her supper, fixes liquor lacing cuppa,
virtue spurned, seduced’s reduced to souvenir.

So while singing ‘light and jolly is the mind of every molly’
ruthless villain did in Gilda, - dire disgrace!
Yet the fates of fair young dolly facing plutocrats with lolly
scarcely vary though it’s scary through time, place.

Thus instead of brigand stabbing Duke ‘twas Gilda he was nabbing,
unbeknown to Rigoletto, - sad’s the case.
When discovered, both fell blabbing, daughter dying near dark cabin
where [b]randy dandy Duke found fond embrace.

Now the moral of this story, which is somewhat sad and gory,
is that sacrifice and love are Woman’s place,
bending to Man’s whim is glory, for He knows what’s best, a law he
would have obeyed throughout the human race!

Here we end this tale of living, trust the reader is forgiving
errors all that fall unto the ear or eye,
time to other verses giving we shall go despite misgiving
leaving farewell, ciao, enjoy life, and good bye!

(30 November 1988 revised 1 June 2013)