Under The Mallee Bough

  Affection granted. Wilhelm Marstrand (1810-1873), Italian osteria. Affection granted. She draws himself to her, Like a moth to a lamp, And should she lower coquettish eyes to him, Would signal an inviting vamp. What would the measure of manhood be, If this moment comes he not ready be, Refusing her comely company, In exchange for some banal pleasantry? A man must read such signals fine, Should she consider or change her mind, For ‘tis woman’s privilege to hold control, Choosing surrender or turning a shoulder cold! These signals given with so delicate touch, Are taught, boyhood till becometh a man in truth, Father to son..peer to peer..old man to youth. ‘Twould be grave error to misread those signs, Like stumble naked into a thicket of thorns, More than scraped knees would suffer forlorn! So gentle man I would remind thee and warn, Heed astute those feminine signals code, L...

  Sacred Heart. Aphrodite 1902.. Briton Riviere Sacred Heart. It is written that God is a jealous God, But would he envious be if I serenade thee? For thou is given as one of his “brides”, Yet would he deny us a secret covent of desire, Better surely should he look down and smile, For himself has ordained that man to woman be one, And if I cannot sing my songs of love to you, What measure of achievement be his deeds done, What measure of compassion be his wisdom, To deny one so lesser the simple joy of admiring you, Let your soul be his, for so it is destined to be, But when evening settles it debt, let thy heart belong to me, Let Aphrodite direct instead these lovers’ desires, So that when we come to the end of our time, The innocence of intent, the purity of passion spent.. Such enduring joy of what was yours, what was mine, Let this elation of heart’s desire, be lift’d to a height sublime.