 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
SWEET SEVENTEEN.
Give me sweet kisses, maiden, give me smiles,
While thine can take the mould of other lips,
And that light footstep innocently trips
Down pleasant paths, as yet unstained with guiles.
While thine can take the mould of other lips,
And that light footstep innocently trips
Down pleasant paths, as yet unstained with guiles.
Oh, ere the world has taught thee deeper wiles,
While hand in hand still naturally slips,
Give me that heart which nothing dark defiles,
Till fashion clouds it with a dire eclipse.
While hand in hand still naturally slips,
Give me that heart which nothing dark defiles,
Till fashion clouds it with a dire eclipse.
Give me thyself, so pure and simple yet,
Before bad custom upon thee has set
The sameness of its miserable seal;
Before bad custom upon thee has set
The sameness of its miserable seal;
Let no false shame thy dew and blossom steal,
While honest love with honest love is met,
Nor hide those charms thy frankness would reveal.
While honest love with honest love is met,
Nor hide those charms thy frankness would reveal.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |