 | Passion-Flowers |  |
118
COQUETTE ET TENDRE.
To mine arm so closely clinging,
Looking, lingering in mine eyes;
Say, what hidden thought is bringing
Change of cheek and smothered sighs?
Looking, lingering in mine eyes;
Say, what hidden thought is bringing
Change of cheek and smothered sighs?
Oft I think thine hands caress me
With each object that they yield,
And the glances that repress me
Sidelong lure me to the field.
With each object that they yield,
And the glances that repress me
Sidelong lure me to the field.
Dost thou own a secret pleasure
When our thoughts half-uttered meet?
And what calculations measure
These, thy tactics of retreat?
When our thoughts half-uttered meet?
And what calculations measure
These, thy tactics of retreat?
119
Seeking, still thou seem'st to shun me;
Turning hence, our looks still blend;
Waste no further spell upon me—
Come—what would'st thou of thy friend?
Turning hence, our looks still blend;
Waste no further spell upon me—
Come—what would'st thou of thy friend?
Not too deeply would I task thee,
Censure none thy woman's art;
Ask thyself the things I ask thee;
Fathom thine own doubting heart.
Censure none thy woman's art;
Ask thyself the things I ask thee;
Fathom thine own doubting heart.
ANSWER.
'Tis a trick of ancient learning
Riper age effaceth not;
Youth's warm impulses returning,
Sage-eyed prudence is forgot.
Riper age effaceth not;
Youth's warm impulses returning,
Sage-eyed prudence is forgot.
Ere I knew life's sober meaning,
Nature taught me simple wiles,
Gave this color, rising, waning,
Gave these shadows, deepening smiles;
Nature taught me simple wiles,
Gave this color, rising, waning,
Gave these shadows, deepening smiles;
120
More she taught me, sighing, singing,
Taught me free to think and move,
Taught this fond, instinctive clinging
To the helpful arm of love.
Taught me free to think and move,
Taught this fond, instinctive clinging
To the helpful arm of love.
If there's evil in my bosom,
Aid thou me to keep it down;
Show the worm within the blossom,
I, like thee, will shrink and frown.
Aid thou me to keep it down;
Show the worm within the blossom,
I, like thee, will shrink and frown.
Is our jesting, then, so fateful?
I'll be colder, if I must;
Do not chide that I am grateful,
Dare not mock my childish trust.
I'll be colder, if I must;
Do not chide that I am grateful,
Dare not mock my childish trust.
| Passion-Flowers | |