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like pearls dangled from a darning needle,
like the harlequin of smiles, sweetly
like a pearly tulip spun on its stem;
or a trim face over a languid doll neck,
or all of a lilac in a wide panting field;
a smile from all of these:—pearl, needle
and stars spun on bright. A smile,
near-astral, on which to gorge awhile,
with the lips' gauche tilt, a sweeping front;
a champagne of a smile, in pixy groves,
each cheek a rose on a mud-sated vine.
Like all the soft-stroked, bird or leaf,
a smile set to a dusky, scented moon.
In ruby trim, sprightly and warm a smile
to vanish into the heart-gladdening eye—
the eye mostly!—pettish days try sparking
and bob-tailed nieces wear like a charm.
Out of all these: candy floss or puppet soft
rising light on the wings of a damselfly.
