Pinks

Fair pinks, with your breath, I have drunk your soul! Brown is the fisherman, and brown the land With the sea brine, the south wind, and the sun; And round the brown land's neck, like necklace Of coral, grow the pinks. Pinks of the gardens, And pinks of the windows; pinks like crowns and stars; Gifts good for any hand, and ornaments For any breast. O flowers blossoming In pleasant rows along the houses' stairs, You sprinkle each man's path with fragrances; And now and then, you bow, touched by the dress Of the young girl who, breeze-like, passes by.

Pinks full and pinks faint-colored; flowers that cause No languor as the roses nor refresh, Like jasmines, flesh and soul; but whose scent has Something of the sharp breath of the lagoon, Even when you are pale like fainting virgins, And even when a world-destroying fire Enflames your petals without burning you!

Pinks, that display now your form's nakedness Like children's bodies freshly bathed, and now The varied ornaments of senseless dwarfs, And now the purple of great emperors! All the transporting music of the red, Like that of many tuneful instruments, Springs from your heart and knows no end, but plays Before my eyes its lasting harmonies. Sweet pinks, with your breath, I have drunk your soul!