She issues radiant from her dressing-room,
Like one prepared to scale an upper sphere:
–By stirring up a lower, much I fear
How deftly that oiled barber lays his bloom
That long-shanked dapper Cupid with frisked curls
Can make known women torturingly fair;
The gold-eyed serpent dwelling in rich hair,
Awakes beneath his magic whisks and twirls.
His art can take the eyes from out my head,
Until I see with eyes of other men;
While deeper knowledge crouches in its den,
And sends a spark up:–is it true we are wed?
Yea! filthiness of body is most vile,
But faithlessness of heart I do hold worse.
The former, it were not so great a curse
To read on the steel-mirror of her smile.
(George Meredith)
More Poetry from George Meredith:
George Meredith Poems based on Topics: Man, Fairness, Money & Wealth, Smiling, Hair, Body, Art- Alsace-Lorraine (George Meredith Poems)
- The Empty Purse--A Sermon To Our Later Prodigal Son (George Meredith Poems)
- A Faith On Trial (George Meredith Poems)
- The Day Of The Daughter Of Hades (George Meredith Poems)
- The Shipwreck Of Idomeneus (George Meredith Poems)
- The Nuptials Of Attila (George Meredith Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Fairness Poems, Smiling Poems, Art Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Hair Poems, Body PoemsBased on Keywords: deftly, twirls, barber, crouches, oiled, dapper, whisks, filthiness, faithlessness, frisked, dressing-room