1.28.2023

my curles about her neck did crawl, And arms and hands they did enthrall

I dream’d this mortal part of mine 
Was Metamorphoz’d to a Vine; 
Which crawling one and every way 
Enthralled my dainty Lucia. 
Methought, her long small legs & thighs 
I with my Tendrils did surprise; 
Her Belly, Buttocks, and her Waste 
By my soft Nerv’lits were embraced. 
About her head I writhing hung, 
And with rich clusters (hid among 
The leaves) her temples I behung: 
So that my Lucia seem’d to me 
Young Bacchus ravisht by his tree. 
My curles about her neck did crawl, 
And arms and hands they did enthrall: 
So that she could not freely stir, 
(All parts there made one prisoner.) 
But when I crept with leaves to hide 
Those parts, which maids keep unespied, 
Such fleeting pleasures there I took, 
That with the fancy I awoke; 
And found (Ah me!) this flesh of mine 
More like a Stock, than like a Vine. 
 
[Robert Herrick {1591-1674} 'The Vine' - in the public domain]

No comments:

Post a Comment