Love

A Cameo

by Madison Cawein 1865–1914

From Weeds by the Wall (1901)

Love

Why speak of Giamschid rubies
Whence rosy starlight drips?
I know a richer crimson,--
The ruby of her lips.

Why speak of pearls of Oman
That shells of ocean sheathe?
I know a purer nacre,--
The white pearls of her teeth.

Why tell me of the sapphires
That Kings and Khalifs prize?
I know a lovelier azure,--
The sapphires of her eyes.

Go search the far Earth over,
Go search the farthest sea,
You will not find a cameo
Like her God carved for me.

MLA

Cawein, Madison. “A Cameo.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cawein/894/.

Chicago

Cawein, Madison. “A Cameo.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cawein/894/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Madison Cawein