Poems (Katharine Elizabeth Howard)/Grand'mère looks on

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GRAND'MÈRE LOOKS ON
Dieu! What a nimble shaft of girl,A graceful slender stem of girl:Tip-tilted head,—the breezes curlThe loosened golden hair.The young legs strong for dance,—And, as I live, a golden glanceShines through the silken hose;Pure gold you are from head to toes.Ah, whirl away, and one, two, three,—A rush, a silken swirl,A slide, a laugh, a whirl,—With all youth's beauty to entrance.Delicious length of girl,—My heartbeats ache my side,—The very ecstasy of youth laid bare—Because I know—Ah, well-a-day!Strong slender girl, make good, make gay,And through the joyous summers whirl,Delicious rippling breeze of girl.The swaying shoulders, shining headUptilted,—with the riant faceAnd the strong backward slideControlled with strenuous grace. ​Alack! How my worn pulses thrillTo youth a-brim with ecstasy,And laughters all my senses fill.The pagan nymphs and fauns trapse by,A-limping in your steps, O girl!Whirl on, nor pause nor lookIf peeping Pan be there forsooth!A maddened Plan he is in truth,Weak kneed and bandy legged.Whirlon! Whirlon! Long may you whirl,Ecstatic shaft of girl,A one, two, three, the poising toe,The slide, the pause, the whirl,—Your gray eyes glistening sweet.Long may you dance on fleeting feet,Delicious length of girl.
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