Lightly kiss and lightly pass
Ere the sleeping Love shall wake;
Nimble-footed, lean and take
Blossoms from a blind morass.
Past the dragon coiled in slumber,
Steal, and filch his guarded gold,
Taking all your hands may hold
And your hasty glances number.
Shadowy breasts and breasts of snow
Bear the rounded fruits of pleasure;
Taste them all, nor seek to treasure
Aught that turns to dust and woe.
Somber locks and tresses fair,
In them all your fingers tangle;
Leave them lest your heart should strangle
In a noose of woman’s hair.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1927.
The author died in 1961, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 60 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.