T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Women
By Francis Saltus Saltus (18491889)(From Shadows and Ideals, 1890) WERE I a woman, I would not pray to be | |
The great Semiramis or Joan of Arc, | |
The Fair Sorel or Catherine grim and dark, | |
Or Cleopatra, supple as the sea. | |
Nor would it in sweet manner pleasure me | 5 |
To be fond Juliet listening to the lark, | |
Nor yet a Staël, with genius for a mark, | |
Nay, nor pale Marie Stuart, queen and free. | |
Had I of such rare transformation choice, | |
I would be Messalina, warm and lewd, | 10 |
Or amorous Sappho, with wild whims impure. | |
Yea! any my lawless spirit would rejoice | |
To live in white Dubarry’s bosom nude, | |
Or on the glittering breast of Pompadour! | |