The Eighth Sin/Robin Herrick in Eights Week

by Christopher Morley

ROBIN HERRICK IN EIGHTS WEEK.

When in a punt my Julia goes
She wields the pole and chastely shows
Her dainty ankles—I repose.

And as she poles she smiling thinks
"I'm glad I wore the silk ones—pink's
My colour"—O the crafty minx!

I, meditating on her charms,
Her supple grace, her bare brown arms . . .
Suddenly, smitten with alarms

I feel a scratch. O where are we?
Under the spiky hawthorn tree,
Whither her punting taketh me!