WHAT is a kiss ?–‘Tis but a seal
That, lightly printed, soon decays:
‘Tis but a zephyr taught to steal
Where fleeting falsehood smiling plays:
The breeze will kiss the flow’r; but soon
From flow’r to weed inconstant blows:
Such is the kiss of LOVE , the boon
Which fickle fancy’s form bestows.
A balmy Kiss once VENUS gave
The ROSE that caught her lover’s sigh:
That ROSE with ev’ry gale would wave,
At every glance of morning die;
Would ope its bosom to the beam
Which glowing noon promiscuous threw;
Or, to the twilight’s parting beam,
Would yield responsive tears of dew;
Oft to the bee its sweets would give,
And flaunt its odours wild around;
With perfum’d breath bid pleasures live,
Or with its hidden mischiefs wound.
This ROSE was white; and, to be blest,
Around it insect-myriads flew,
Charm’d by the wonders of its breast,
High-essenc’d in the summer dew:
But when the lip of beauty shed
A rival sweetness on that breast,
It blush’d –and droop’d its fragrant head,
Asham’d to be so proudly blest.
Its odour chang’d, a crimson glow
Fix’d on its lovely form appears;
While ’round the sighing zephyrs blow,
And NATURE bathes its leaves with tears.—-
Then does not ev’ry kiss impart,
In magic thrills of speechless pleasure,
Reproaches to the wand’ring heart
That knows not how to prize the treasure ?
(Mary Elizabeth Robinson)
More Poetry from Mary Elizabeth Robinson:
Mary Elizabeth Robinson Poems based on Topics: Love, Summer, Morning, Pleasure, Charm, Beauty, Kiss- The Foster-Child (Mary Elizabeth Robinson Poems)
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