Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE INDIAN MAID. DEMARARIE, OCT. 27, 1781, by EDWARD THOMPSON (1739-1786)


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE INDIAN MAID. DEMARARIE, OCT. 27, 1781, by                    
First Line: The indian maid who lightly trips, / the dryad of the guava grove
Last Line: Prove her the goddess of the place!
Subject(s): Travel; West Indies; Journeys; Trips; Caribbean Islands


THE Indian maid who lightly trips,
The Dryad of the Guava grove,
The zone of Venus round her hips,
And graced with youth, and blessed in love!
Gold rings adorn her nose and arms,
And leaves of beads veil naked charms.

Or if she quits the golden wood,
Pierced by the scorching solar beam,
She plunges in the cooler flood,
And swims the Naiad of the stream:
Adores the god in ev'ry air,
And smiles the maid without a care.

Or if more distant creeks invite
To fish, to fowl, or seek her love,
She paddles the canoe upright,
Where Christian maids would fear to move;
On some fair tree her hammock swings,
Nor envies she the beds of kings.

Like other belles of other shores,
She daubs her limbs, her face, her hair:
Raucoo and launa stop the pores
Against mosquitoes and the air.
But these, I trust, nor spoil her skin,
They're to defend—not lure to sin.

A beauteous bronze she stands confessed,
Venus nor Hebe more complete;
With various feathers tricked and dressed,
Perfumed with Tonkay flow'rs most sweet!
And when she moves, her mien and grace
Prove her the goddess of the place!




Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net