T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Reproach
By D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930)(From Amores, 1916) HAD I but known yesterday, | |
| Helen, you could discharge the ache | |
| Out of the cloud; | |
| Had I known yesterday you could take | |
| The turgid electric ache away, | 5 |
| Drink it up with your proud | |
| White body, as lovely white lightning | |
| Is drunk from an agonised sky by the earth, | |
| I might have hated you, Helen. | |
| But since my limbs gushed full of fire, | 10 |
| Since from out of my blood and bone | |
| Poured a heavy flame | |
| To you, earth of my atmosphere, stone | |
| Of my steel, lovely white flint of desire, | |
| You have no name. | 15 |
| Earth of my swaying atmosphere, | |
| Substance of my inconstant breath, | |
| I cannot but cleave to you. | |
| Since you have drunken up the drear | |
| Painful electric storm, and death | 20 |
| Is washed from the blue | |
| Of my eyes, I see you beautiful. | |
| You are strong and passive and beautiful, | |
| I come like winds that uncertain hover; | |
| But you | 25 |
| Are the earth I hover over. | |