Erotica/Sweet Contradiction

by Arthur Clark Kennedy

Sweet Contradiction

Sweet contradiction is the soul
Of every woman. When I burned
With love, poured passionate words, heart whole
She laughed, but when aside I turned
To note another's wistful look
Whence spake a world unutterable,
At once she stood between us, took
My hand in hers, her bosom rose and fell,
Her eyes she kept downcast a little space,
And then her lips were lifted to my face.