Coeur de Femme.

Coeur de Femme.

I CANNOT think that woman love as weLove them, with soul and body, breath and blood,And spent soul tortured in the strangling floodOf passion’s tense oblivious agony;I cannot think the kiss She gives to meThrills her white body as it pulses mine,Or in Love’s chalice of ambrosial wineShe drowns all things which were or are to be.We please them with our smile, for they are vainAnd Love a flatterer is; they joy to flingA rose-entwinèd leash about their slave;Purple and gold they take, and winnowed grainOf gems from Hesperus’ isle,—all men will bring;ButLove—lies bleeding by a woman’s grave!

I CANNOT think that woman love as weLove them, with soul and body, breath and blood,And spent soul tortured in the strangling floodOf passion’s tense oblivious agony;I cannot think the kiss She gives to meThrills her white body as it pulses mine,Or in Love’s chalice of ambrosial wineShe drowns all things which were or are to be.We please them with our smile, for they are vainAnd Love a flatterer is; they joy to flingA rose-entwinèd leash about their slave;Purple and gold they take, and winnowed grainOf gems from Hesperus’ isle,—all men will bring;ButLove—lies bleeding by a woman’s grave!

I CANNOT think that woman love as weLove them, with soul and body, breath and blood,And spent soul tortured in the strangling floodOf passion’s tense oblivious agony;I cannot think the kiss She gives to meThrills her white body as it pulses mine,Or in Love’s chalice of ambrosial wineShe drowns all things which were or are to be.

I CANNOT think that woman love as we

I CANNOT think that woman love as we

Love them, with soul and body, breath and blood,

And spent soul tortured in the strangling flood

Of passion’s tense oblivious agony;

I cannot think the kiss She gives to me

Thrills her white body as it pulses mine,

Or in Love’s chalice of ambrosial wine

She drowns all things which were or are to be.

We please them with our smile, for they are vainAnd Love a flatterer is; they joy to flingA rose-entwinèd leash about their slave;Purple and gold they take, and winnowed grainOf gems from Hesperus’ isle,—all men will bring;ButLove—lies bleeding by a woman’s grave!

We please them with our smile, for they are vain

And Love a flatterer is; they joy to fling

A rose-entwinèd leash about their slave;

Purple and gold they take, and winnowed grain

Of gems from Hesperus’ isle,—all men will bring;

ButLove—lies bleeding by a woman’s grave!


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