Poems and ballads / by Algernon Charles Swinburne.

  • Algernon Charles Swinburne
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Poems and ballads / by Algernon Charles Swinburne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Sweet still, but now not red, Was the shut mouth whereby men lived and died. And sweet, but emptied of the blood’s blue shade. The great curled eyehds that withheld her eyes. And sweet, but like spoilt gold. The weight of colour in her tresses weighed. And sweet, but as a vesture with new dyes. The body that was clothed with love of old. Ah ! that my tears filled all her woven hair And all the hollow bosom of her gown— All ! that my tears ran down Even to the place where many kisses ivere. Even where her parted breast-flowers have place. Even where they are cloven apart—who knows not this Ah ! the flowers cleave apart And their sweet fiUs the tender interspace ; Ah ! the leaves grown thereof were things to kiss Ere their fine gold was tarnished at the heart.' Ah! in the days when God did good to me. Each part about her was a righteous thing; Her mouth an almsgiving. The glory of her garments charity. The beauty of her bosom a good deed. In the good days when God kept sight of us; Love lay upon her eyes. And on that hair whereof the world takes heed ;
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