THE VINAIGRETTE
When I was a child
I sometimes used to steal
Within the parlor, tiptoe light across
The darkly shining floor
To where behind the wide brocaded couch
Stood a small cabinet.
I loved to rub my finger on the smooth
Cold glass of the doors, and peer
At all the pretty things upon the shelves.
I sometimes used to steal
Within the parlor, tiptoe light across
The darkly shining floor
To where behind the wide brocaded couch
Stood a small cabinet.
I loved to rub my finger on the smooth
Cold glass of the doors, and peer
At all the pretty things upon the shelves.
Three balls of solid crystal grasped
Between the curving claws
Of an ivory dragon, held the light
Unchanging, purple, green and rose.
Between the curving claws
Of an ivory dragon, held the light
Unchanging, purple, green and rose.
Then, on its teakwood stand
A bowl of Japanese
Enamel of most dainty blue. Beneath
A foaming cascade overhung
By trailing willows golden fishes leapt—
Their burnished scales
Gleamed like the smoky orange flame
In a fire-opal's heart.
A bowl of Japanese
Enamel of most dainty blue. Beneath
A foaming cascade overhung
By trailing willows golden fishes leapt—
Their burnished scales
Gleamed like the smoky orange flame
In a fire-opal's heart.
On either side
Of such a wee chess-board inlaid
With ebony and pearl,
Two cupids knelt in fierce dispute;
Each carved from alabaster. This I thought
Most beautiful of all.
Of such a wee chess-board inlaid
With ebony and pearl,
Two cupids knelt in fierce dispute;
Each carved from alabaster. This I thought
Most beautiful of all.
I must speak very low—
There lay within its narrow case
There lay within its narrow case
[ 30 ]
