I wish that I had seen her when she danced: A living flame in so much candlelight, Bright-colored breasts of humming-birds enhanced The sandals that she wore on that mad night. White peacocks spread their tails in lacy fans An ivory filigree to match her grace, Salome, victim of her mother's plans, Bowed low and smilingly unveiled her face. I cannot think that she was wholly bad -- And if good John the Baptist had possessed The gentle patience that his Master had He might have saved her soul; with sins confessed Salome could have held an oriflamb That bore the holy symbol of the lamb. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPIGRAM: 118. ON GUT by BEN JONSON EPIGRAM by DECIMUS MAGNUS AUSONIUS TO THE MEMORY OF A FRIEND WHO DIED ON SABBATH MORNING by ELIZABETH BOGART THE INCUNABULUM'S TALE by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB ARISTOPHANES' APOLOGY; BEING THE LAST ADVENTURE OF BALAUSTION: PART 2 by ROBERT BROWNING THE WANDERER: 5. IN HOLLAND: METEMPSYCHOSIS by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON SPRING FANTASIES: 2. THE SPRING RETURNS by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |