T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Housemaid
By Richard Le Gallienne (18661947)POOR pulses ready still to beat | |
At any sound of Love’s light feet, | |
Poor hungry heart too young to learn | |
Youth is no more, poor eyes that burn | |
Still on the women in the street. | 5 |
O print-clad damsel, fresh and fair, | |
Bending above the threshold there | |
On supple knees and swaying line, | |
And honeyed curve—dear maid, be mine. | |
For O, I know about thy neck | 10 |
Hide silver globes without a fleck, | |
About thy soft and odorous waist | |
I know what other joys are placed, | |
And those strong limbs that make a lap | |
As soft as down,—ah blessed hap | 15 |
To lie therein; these round arms bare, | |
How strongly would you draw me there. | |
O how you make my blood a song, | |
And how this foolish heart will long, | |
And even brain will have its dream— | 20 |
Ah there, far up the street a gleam | |
Turns like a wing, it is her hand, | |
She kisses it—we understand. | |