Improvisation 2

Shine, shine
The light of good works shine
The watch before the city gates
Depicted in their primeThat golden light all grimy now
300 years have passed
The worthy captain
And his squad of troopers standing fastThe artist knew their faces well
The husbands of his lady friends
His creditors and councilors
In armor bright, the merchant menOfficial moments of the guild
In poses keen from bygone days
The city fathers frozen there
Upon the canvas dark with ageThe smell of paint, a flask of wine
And turn those faces all to me
The blunderbuss and halberd-shaft
And Dutch respectabilityThey make their entrance one by one
Defenders of that way of life
The redbrick home, the bourgeoisie
Guitar lessons for the wifeSo many years, we suffered here
Our country racked with Spanish wars
Now comes a chance to find ourselves
And quiet reigns behind our doorsWe think about posterity again
And so the pride of little men
The burghers, good and true
Still living through the painter's hand
Request you all to understand