So with a downcast mien and laughing voice 

 I followed, followed the swing of her white dress 

 That rocked in a lilt along : I watched the poise 

 Of her feet as they flew for a space, then paused to press 

 The grass deep down with the royal burden of her : 

 And gladly I 'd offered my breast to the tread of her. 



' I like to see,' she said, and she crouched her down. 

 She sunk into my sight like a settling bird ; 

 And her bosom couched in the confines of her gown 

 Like heavy birds at rest there, softly stirred 

 By her measured breaths : ' I like to see,' said she, 

 ' The snapdragon put out his tongue at me.' 

 She laughed, she reached her hand out to the flower, 

 Closing its crimson throat : my own throat in her power 

 Strangled, my heart swelled up so full 

 As if it would burst its wineskin in my throat, 

 Choke me in my own crimson ; I watched her pull 

 The gorge of the gaping flower, till the blood did 

 float 



Over my eyes and I was blind — 



Her large brown hand stretched over 



The windows of my mind. 



And in the dark I did discover 



Things I was out to find : 



My grail, a brown bowl twined 



With swollen veins that met in the wrist. 



Under whose brown the amethyst 



I longed to taste : and I longed to turn 



My heart's red measure in her cup, 



I longed to feel my hot blood bum 



With the lambent amethyst in her cup. 



31 



