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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LADY I HAVE VOWED TO PAINT, by                     Poet's Biography
Alternate Author Name(s): Field, Michael (with Edith Emma Cooper)
Subject(s): Beauty


THE lady I have vowed to paint
THE lady I have vowed to paint
Has contour of a rose,
Has contour of a rose,
No rigid shadow of a saint
No rigid shadow of a saint
Upon the wall she throws;
Upon the wall she throws;
Her tints so softly lie
Her tints so softly lie
Against the air they almost vie
Against the air they almost vie
With the sea's outline smooth against the sky.
With the sea's outline smooth against the sky.
To those whom damask hues beguile
To those whom damask hues beguile
Her praise I do not speak,
Her praise I do not speak,
I find her colour in the smile
I find her colour in the smile
Warm on her warm, blond cheek :
Warm on her warm, blond cheek :
Then to the eyes away
Then to the eyes away
It spreads, those eyes of mystic gray
It spreads, those eyes of mystic gray
That with mirage of their own vision play.
That with mirage of their own vision play.
Her hairr, about her brow, burns bright.
Her hairr, about her brow, burns bright.
Her tresses are the gold
Her tresses are the gold
That in a missal keeps the light
That in a missal keeps the light
Solemn and pure. Behold
Solemn and pure. Behold
Her lashes' glimmerings
Her lashes' glimmerings
Have the dove's secret springs
Have the dove's secret springs
Of amber sunshine when she spreads her wings.
Of amber sunshine when she spreads her wings.




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