Rimbaud, "Première soirée"
A work ("First evening") by this French poet. You can read the original here.
Undressed was she, O how undressed,
As large and shameless trees appeared;
Each leaf a window pane caressed,
With guile and O so near, so near.
Upon my chair she lay half-nude,
Her white hands softly thus entwined;
Upon the floor, a coy étude:
Her little feet, so fine, so fine.
And I then saw, as bright as wax,
A hidden ray of light repose,
Which flitted in a smile's red tracks
And on her breast, a fly or rose.
I kissed her ankles, and so thrilled;
A soft and brutal laugh she gave
And stretched in echoes of clear trills,
The lovely laugh of crystal cave.
As those small feet beneath her gown
Escaped, she quipped: "Won't you relent!"
The first bold move had brought no frown,
Just laughter feigning punishment!
And palpitating by my lip,
Her poor bright eyes I softly kissed;
Her vapid head began to slip
Far back: "So better now!" she hissed.
"Now sir, I must reveal this much" –
But then upon her breast I dived
With kisses matched to every touch,
And laughter that was scarce contrived.
Undressed was she, divine, undressed.
As large and shameless trees did peer
In windows grazed by leaf's caress,
To us they came so near, so near.
Reader Comments