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 | The poems of Madison Cawein |  |
505
“WERE I AN ARTIST”
Were I an artist, Lydia, I
Would paint you as you merit,
Not as my eyes, but dreams descry;
Not in the flesh, but spirit.
Would paint you as you merit,
Not as my eyes, but dreams descry;
Not in the flesh, but spirit.
The canvas I would paint you on
Should be a strip of heaven;
My brush, a sunbeam; pigments, dawn
And night and starry even.
Should be a strip of heaven;
My brush, a sunbeam; pigments, dawn
And night and starry even.
Your form and features to express
Likewise your soul's chaste whiteness,
I'd take the primal essences
Of darkness and of brightness.
Likewise your soul's chaste whiteness,
I'd take the primal essences
Of darkness and of brightness.
I'd take pure night to paint your hair;
Stars for your eye; and morning
To paint your skin—the rosy air
Which is your limbs' adorning.
Stars for your eye; and morning
To paint your skin—the rosy air
Which is your limbs' adorning.
506
To paint the love-bows of your lips,
I'd mix, for colors, kisses;
And for your breasts and finger-tips,
Sweet odors and soft blisses.
I'd mix, for colors, kisses;
And for your breasts and finger-tips,
Sweet odors and soft blisses.
And to complete the picture well,
I'd temper all with woman,—
Some tears, some laughter; heaven and hell,
To show you yet are human.
I'd temper all with woman,—
Some tears, some laughter; heaven and hell,
To show you yet are human.
| The poems of Madison Cawein | |