A Song of Praise

(For one who praised his lady’s being fair.)

YOU have not heard my love’s dark throat,Slow-fluting like a reed,Release the perfect golden noteShe caged there for my need.Her walk is like the replicaOf some barbaric danceWherein the soul of AfricaIs winged with arrogance.And yet so light she steps acrossThe ways her sure feet pass,She does not dent the smoothest mossOr bend the thinnest grass.My love is dark as yours is fair,Yet lovelier I hold herThan listless maids with pallid hair,And blood that’s thin and colder.You-proud-and-to-be-pitied one,Gaze on her and despair;Then seal your lips until the sunDiscovers one as fair.

YOU have not heard my love’s dark throat,Slow-fluting like a reed,Release the perfect golden noteShe caged there for my need.

YOU have not heard my love’s dark throat,

Slow-fluting like a reed,

Release the perfect golden note

She caged there for my need.

Her walk is like the replicaOf some barbaric danceWherein the soul of AfricaIs winged with arrogance.

Her walk is like the replica

Of some barbaric dance

Wherein the soul of Africa

Is winged with arrogance.

And yet so light she steps acrossThe ways her sure feet pass,She does not dent the smoothest mossOr bend the thinnest grass.

And yet so light she steps across

The ways her sure feet pass,

She does not dent the smoothest moss

Or bend the thinnest grass.

My love is dark as yours is fair,Yet lovelier I hold herThan listless maids with pallid hair,And blood that’s thin and colder.

My love is dark as yours is fair,

Yet lovelier I hold her

Than listless maids with pallid hair,

And blood that’s thin and colder.

You-proud-and-to-be-pitied one,Gaze on her and despair;Then seal your lips until the sunDiscovers one as fair.

You-proud-and-to-be-pitied one,

Gaze on her and despair;

Then seal your lips until the sun

Discovers one as fair.

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