Applauding youths laughed with young prostitutes And watched her perfect, half-clothed body sway; Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes Blown by black players upon a picnic day. She sang and danced on gracefully and calm, The light gauze hanging loose about her form; To me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm Grown lovelier for passing through a storm. Upon her swarthy neck black, shiny curls Profusely fell; and, tossing coins in praise, The wine-flushed, bold-eyed boys, and even the girls, Devoured her with their eager, passionate gaze; But looking at her falsely-smiling face, I knew her self was not in that strange place. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INVOCATION [TO LOVE] by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN THE MAIDS OF ELFIN-MERE by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM AN AUTUMN NIGHT by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS A THOUGHT ON DEATH by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD ODE by ANNE CHARLOTTE LYNCH BOTTA SIC A WIFE AS WILLIE HAD by ROBERT BURNS |