Hilaire Belloc's 'Tarantella'

Hilaire Belloc, who wrote The Servile State quoted in the post below, was a popular poet in his day, and is famous for collections for children, including The Bad Child's Book of Beasts, More Beasts (for Worse Children), The Modern Traveller and Cautionary Tales for Children.

When I was child, I was given this poem at school, 'Tarantella', to learn by heart and recite in front of the class. I remember the sensation distinctly; I think it was the first time I really connected with poetry, because it is so musical, almost incantatory, and the rhythm in the middle part so vigorously expresses the movements of dance. I loved it, and still do!

  
Tarantella

Do you remember an Inn, Miranda?
Do you remember an Inn?
And the tedding and the spreading of the straw
        for a bedding,
And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees,
And the wine that tasted of tar,
And the cheers and the jeers of the young
        muleteers
Under the vine of the dark veranda?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda?
Do you remember an Inn?
And the cheers and the jeers of the young
        muleteers
Who hadn't got a penny,
And who weren't paying any,
And the hammer at the doors and the din;
And the Hip! Hop! Hap!
Of the clap
Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl
Of the girl gone chancing,
Glancing,
Dancing,
Backing and advancing,
Snapping of the clapper to the spin,
Out and in
And the Ting! Tong! Tang! of the guitar?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda?
Do you remember an Inn?
    Never more;
    Miranda,
    Never more.
    Only the high peaks hoar:
    And Aragon a torrent at the door.
    No sound
    In the walls of the Halls where falls
    The tread
    Of the feet of the dead to the ground
    No sound:
    But the boom
    Of the far Waterfall like Doom.