Classic Poem

These eyes are famished, and they plead so long,
These lips are thirsty, clamorous to kiss,
These beauties of desire for dalliance,
These hidden love delights like the Abyss
Know not when sated.

And with carnality, riot of joy,
And with flesh sensual, voluptuous,
From pleasure fountains blessed I am cloyed;
Ah! beauty, couldst thou know the languorous
Soul thou hast wearied.

No storm had swept my passions, I was clean,
Till beauty breathed her spirit and defiled
A simple lad, brought pitiless to thy feet—
A perfect heart, a crystal mind, a child
Empty of blossom.

Small moment's boundless happiness was mine,
I blessed the hand that hurt, of sad bliss made,
In that small moment's happy, happy joy
A full world crashed about me—great wealth paid
All for thy flesh!