 | Orchids |  |
30
TUBEROSE
Cool flower! that to my heated lips
Hast clung through half an amorous hour,
I love thee and thy honey drips!
White, languid, heady-scented flower!
Hast clung through half an amorous hour,
I love thee and thy honey drips!
White, languid, heady-scented flower!
My mistress plucked thee from the lulled
Heat of her odorous alcove.
I know the smooth white hands that culled
Thy stem, white messenger of love!
Heat of her odorous alcove.
I know the smooth white hands that culled
Thy stem, white messenger of love!
But ah! what missive comes with thee,
My tender bloom, my welcome guest?
In secret dost thou bear to me
The languid fragrance of her breast?
My tender bloom, my welcome guest?
In secret dost thou bear to me
The languid fragrance of her breast?
Haply among thy honeyed whirls
A fervent kiss alone abides:
And yet in these enchanted curls
Perchance some traitor poison hides.
A fervent kiss alone abides:
And yet in these enchanted curls
Perchance some traitor poison hides.
Dear poison, send thy deadliest breath
Subtly about me as I lie,
That none may part from me in death
The murderous flower by whom I die!
Subtly about me as I lie,
That none may part from me in death
The murderous flower by whom I die!
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