Love

Back-view

by William Ernest Henley 1849–1903

From Poems

Love

To D. F.

I WATCHED you saunter down the sand:
Serene and large, the golden weather
Flowed radiant round your peacock feather,
And glistered from your jewelled hand.
Your tawny hair, turned strand on strand
And bound with blue ribands together,
Streaked the rough tartan, green like heather,
That round your lissome shoulder spanned.
Your grace was quick my sense to seize:
The quaint looped hat, the twisted tresses,
The close-drawn scarf, and under these
The flowing, flapping draperies—
My thought an outline still caresses,
Enchanting, comic, Japanese!

MLA

Henley, William Ernest. “Back-view.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/henley/38/.

Chicago

Henley, William Ernest. “Back-view.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/henley/38/.

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