Arts & Sciences

Villanelle of His Lady's Treasures

by Ernest Dowson 1867–1900

From The Poems and Prose of Ernest Dowson, With a Memoir by Arthur Symons

Arts & Sciences

I took her dainty eyes, as well
As silken tendrils of her hair:
And so I made a Villanelle!

I took her voice, a silver bell,
As clear as song, as soft as prayer;
I took her dainty eyes as well.

It may be, said I, who can tell,
These things shall be my less despair?
And so I made a Villanelle!

I took her whiteness virginal
And from her cheek two roses rare:
I took her dainty eyes as well.

I said: "It may be possible
Her image from my heart to tear!"
And so I made a Villanelle.

I stole her laugh, most musical:
I wrought it in with artful care;
I took her dainty eyes as well;
And so I made a Villanelle.

MLA

Dowson, Ernest. “Villanelle of His Lady's Treasures.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dowson/26/.

Chicago

Dowson, Ernest. “Villanelle of His Lady's Treasures.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dowson/26/.

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