Number 8
It was a face which darkness could kill
in an instant
A face as easily hurt
by laughter or light
‘We think differently at night’
she told me once
Lying back languidly
And she would quote Cocteau
‘I feel there is an angel in me’ she’d say
‘whom I am constantly shocking’
Then she would smile and look away
light a cigarette for me
sigh and rise
And stretch
her sweet anatomy
let fall a stocking





Related poetry:
- One Cigarette No smoke without you, my fire. After you left, Your cigarette glowed on in my ashtray And sent up a […]...
- Lines Inscribed on The Wall of a Dungeon in The Southern P of I Though not a breath can enter here, I know the wind blows fresh and free; I know the sun is […]...
- O Blush Not So! O blush not so! O blush not so! Or I shall think you knowing; And if you smile the blushing […]...
- Smiles Smile a little, smile a little, As you go along, Not alone when life is pleasant, But when things go […]...
- Some time Last night, my darling, as you slept, I thought I heard you sigh, And to your little crib I crept, […]...
- Romance To clasp you now and feel your head close-pressed, Scented and warm against my beating breast; To whisper soft and […]...
- Smoke Last summer, lazing by the sea, I met a most entrancing creature, Her black eyes quite bewildered me – She […]...
- Sometimes The Sky's Too Bright Sometimes the sky’s too bright, Or has too many clouds or birds, And far away’s too sharp a sun To […]...
- REVERSIBILITY ANGEL of gaiety, have you tasted grief? Shame and remorse and sobs and weary spite, And the vague terrors of […]...
- Abou Ben Adhem Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw, within the […]...
- Dreams While on my lonely couch I lie, I seldom feel myself alone, For fancy fills my dreaming eye With scenes […]...
- The West Wind Beneath the forest’s skirts I rest, Whose branching pines rise dark and high, And hear the breezes of the West […]...
- Die in shame! You hide your face in shame, But I can see your private parts, Have you no contrition, To expose yourself, […]...
- In the Stalls My life is like a music-hall, Where, in the impotence of rage, Chained by enchantment to my stall, I see […]...
- Only a Curl I. FRIENDS of faces unknown and a land Unvisited over the sea, Who tell me how lonely you stand With […]...
- Café Comedy She I’m waiting for the man I hope to wed. I’ve never seen him – that’s the funny part. I […]...
- Evening Star Thou fair hair’d angel of the evening, Now, while the sun rests on the mountains light, Thy bright torch of […]...
- To the Evening Star Thou fair-haired angel of the evening, Now, whilst the sun rests on the mountains, light Thy bright torch of love; […]...
- A Baby's Death A little soul scarce fledged for earth Takes wing with heaven again for goal Even while we hailed as fresh […]...
- The Little Lives Of Earth And Form The little lives of earth and form, Of finding food, and keeping warm, Are not like ours, and yet A […]...
- Think Of It Not, Sweet One Think not of it, sweet one, so; – Give it not a tear; Sigh thou mayst, and bid it go […]...
- Echo How sweet the answer Echo makes To music at night, When, roused by lute or horn, she wakes, And far […]...
- Winter Night It snowed and snowed, the whole world over, Snow swept the world from end to end. A candle burned on […]...
- An Exile's Farewell The ocean heaves around us still With long and measured swell, The autumn gales our canvas fill, Our ship rides […]...
- Go, Valentine Go, Valentine, and tell that lovely maid Whom fancy still will portray to my sight, How here I linger in […]...
- Philosophy Ere all the world had grown so drear, When I was young and you were here, ‘Mid summer roses in […]...
- 554. Song-A Health to ane I loe dear Chorus-Here’s a health to ane I loe dear, Here’s a health to ane I loe dear; Thou art sweet as […]...
- The Cut Well, what’s the matter? there’s a face What! has it cut a vein? And is it quite a shocking place? […]...
- Sonnet CXLIV Two loves I have of comfort and despair, Which like two spirits do suggest me still: The better angel is […]...
- Sonnet 144: Two loves I have, of comfort and despair Two loves I have, of comfort and despair, Which like two spirits do suggest me still: The better angel is […]...
- The Masked Face I found me in a great surging space, At either end a door, And I said: “What is this giddying […]...
- For The Foxes don’t feel sorry for me. I am a competent, Satisfied human being. Be sorry for the others Who Fidget Complain […]...
- To One Who Has Been Long In City Pent To one who has been long in city pent, ‘Tis very sweet to look into the fair And open face […]...
- Hence, All You Vain Delights from the Nice Valour Hence, all you vain delights, As short as are the nights Wherein you spend your folly: There’s nought in this […]...
- PUBLISHERS And then they pretend like owls With marble eyes and wizened stupidity I do not know why they cannot perceive […]...
- The Poor Children Take heed of this small child of earth; He is great; he hath in him God most high. Children before […]...
- My Vision Wherever my feet may wander Wherever I chance to be, There comes, with the coming of even’ time A vision […]...
- Yes And No Across a continent imaginary Because it cannot be discovered now Upon this fully apprehended planet- No more applicants considered, Alas, […]...
- Take Back the Virgin Page Written on Returning a Blank Book Take back the virgin page, White and unwritten still; Some hand, more calm and […]...
- Love's Young Dream Oh! the days are gone, when Beauty bright My heart’s chain wove; When my dream of life, from morn till […]...