Ode to Tilly
A Viennese trained ballerina
Chief dancer to Balanchine
Ethereal elegance
On stage and on screen
A life lived in London
Then to Broadway with Astaire
She enraptured audiences
Including Ginger Rogers in full glare
She married a millionaire
Arts patron Edward James
He accused her of adultery
And she of him (but not with dames)
Arts patron Edward James
He accused her of adultery
And she of him (but not with dames)
Tilly took to Hollywood
A supporting player in flux
She retreated back to Broadway
Where creativity remained luxe
She married again
To the Earl of Carnarvon
Son to the discoverer
Of King Tut's tomb anon
To the Earl of Carnarvon
Son to the discoverer
Of King Tut's tomb anon
A bout with depression
Made her incredibly ill
So she took to painting portraits
With undeniable skill
Tilly Losch lived a life
Rife with passion for art
Dancing with her feet, her hands
And her heart
Rife with passion for art
Dancing with her feet, her hands
And her heart
