Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

Lâila Sleeps

By Harold Greenthal

(1921) THOU art tired, Lâila, warm and tired. Thine eyes stay longer shut than open, for poppy-dust is flying in the air, and a diamond-drop, fresh as rose dew, glitters from the dimple in thy chin.	1
Sleep, lovely Lâila, sleep, and I will watch thee through the night. The moon’s soft lambent rays light up thy ruby lips; thy throat gleams white, and thy flower-like breasts tempt my wanton finger-tips!	2
How calm the night! How calm her sleep! How hot the fire in my veins! Ah, little houri, now art thou mine. In my hands are thine—so pink and soft and warm! I steal a hasty kiss from thy red lips and bathe my face in the odor of thy hair!	3
Sleep on, my Lâila, nor ope thy weary lids. Through this long night of love I’ll guard thee. Sleep on, O tired eyes; O ruby lips sleep on; O musky mole, O warm, soft hands, O kiss-red breasts, sleep on, sleep on!	4