thorns and kisses

“Oh lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud! I fall upon the thorns of life!
I bleed!”—Percy Bysshe Shelley

and when i saw your perfect teeth,
i thought, how awesome for the perfect bite!
may they not bruise the kiss beneath
the sheathing of their canine-sparkling white.

a honeybee upon the wing,
no less resplendent than the mouth of you;
so cock-sure with its venom sting,
while foolish men get stung for honey brew.

so, too, the dark-red dew-clad rose,
enticing fondling hands to blow her horn,
while, underneath her dainty pose,
bloodthirsting for a draught, her wicked thorn.

love at first sight safe recompense
ill-guarantees the fickle-hearted fool.
make bosom friends with commonsense:
life has its mirth, e'en when, kept far, we drool.

© Copyright 2024 April 14
by Clyve A. Bowen♫