Love

Wouldn't You Like to Know?

by John G. Saxe 1816–1887

From The Poems of John Godfrey Saxe (1872)

Love

I know a girl with teeth of pearl,
And shoulders white as snow;
She lives, — ah! well,
I must not tell, —
Wouldn't you like to know?

Her sunny hair is wondrous fair,
And wavy in its flow;
Who made it less
One little tress, —
Wouldn't you like to know?

Her eyes are blue (celestial hue!)
And dazzling in their glow;
On whom they beam
With melting gleam, —
Wouldn't you like to know?

Her lips are red and finely wed,
Like roses ere they blow;
What lover sips
Those dewy lips, —
Wouldn't you like to know?

Her fingers are like lilies fair
When lilies fairest grow;
Whose hand they press
With fond caress, —
Wouldn't you like to know?

Her foot is small, and has a fall
Like snowflakes on the snow;
And where it goes
Beneath the rose, —
Wouldn't you like to know?

She has a name, the sweetest name
That language can bestow;
'Twould break the spell
If I should tell, —
Wouldn't you like to know?

MLA

Saxe, John G. “Wouldn't You Like to Know?” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/saxe/21/.

Chicago

Saxe, John G. “Wouldn't You Like to Know?” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/saxe/21/.

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