  KISS! Hollyhock in Love’s luxuriant close! Brisk music played on pearly little keys; In tempo with the witching melodies Sonorous, graceful Kiss, hail! Kiss divine! Unequalled boon, unutterable bliss! Man, bent o’er thine enthralling chalice, Kiss, Grows drunken with a rapture only thine! Thou comfortest as music does, and wine, And grief dies smothered in thy purple fold. Let one greater than I, Kiss, and more bold, Rear thee a classic, monumental line. Humble Parisian bard, this infantile Bouquet of rhymes I tender half in fear.... Be gracious, and in guerdon, on the dear Red lips of One I know, a light and smile! Paul Verlaine. |
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