Morning unwound the sunlight's saffron spool; Brief supplication breathed a girl in prayer The gods would send her lover to her there; She flung her azure robe beside the pool. A tense man watched her plunge into the cool Of early waters ... oh, to touch her hair! To smooth her torso beautiful and bare, And curve his hands about her breasts!—a fool Was he?—Her body was so petal-white! As lotus-flowers allured her lilting feet, Like little breezes they were quick and light; He longed to thrust his sword with love replete Deep in her shining form ... that moonlit night They struggled in a union wild and sweet. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHAMBER MUSIC: 24 by JAMES JOYCE MOUNTAIN FARM by MALCOLM COWLEY THE GIFT TO SING by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE RIVALS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: BARNEY HAINSFEATHER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: JOHN WASSON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TO A SCREEN-MAKER by MARIANNE MOORE |