Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
III. Loves Beginnings
The Kiss
Robert Herrick (15911674)
1.
AMONG thy fancies tell me this: | What is the thing we call a kiss? 2. | I shall resolve ye what it is:
| It is a creature born and bred | Between the lips all cherry red, | By love and warm desires fed; Chor. | And makes more soft the bridal bed.
| It is an active flame, that flies | First to the babies of the eyes, | And charms them there with lullabies; Chor. | And stills the bride too when she cries.
| Then to the chin, the cheek, the ear, | It frisks and flies,—now here, now there; | ’T is now far off, and then ’t is near; Chor. | And here, and there, and everywhere. 1. | Has it a speaking virtue?—2.Yes. 1. | How speaks it, say?—2.Do you but this: | Part your joined lips,—then speaks your kiss; Chor. | And this love’s sweetest language is. 1. | Has it a body?—2.Ay, and wings, | With thousand rare encolorings; | And as it flies it gently sings; Chor. | Love honey yields, but never stings.
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