Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | III. Love’s Beginnings | | The Kiss | | Robert Herrick (1591–1674) |
| | | 1. | AMONG thy fancies tell me this: | |
| What is the thing we call a kiss? | |
| 2. | I shall resolve ye what it is: | |
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| It is a creature born and bred | |
| Between the lips all cherry red, | 5 |
| By love and warm desires fed; | |
| Chor. | And makes more soft the bridal bed. | |
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| It is an active flame, that flies | |
| First to the babies of the eyes, | |
| And charms them there with lullabies; | 10 |
| Chor. | And stills the bride too when she cries. | |
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| Then to the chin, the cheek, the ear, | |
| It frisks and flies,—now here, now there; | |
| ’T is now far off, and then ’t is near; | |
| Chor. | And here, and there, and everywhere. | 15 |
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| 1. | Has it a speaking virtue?—2. Yes. | |
| 1. | How speaks it, say?—2. Do you but this: | |
| Part your joined lips,—then speaks your kiss; | |
| Chor. | And this love’s sweetest language is. | |
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| 1. | Has it a body?—2. Ay, and wings, | 20 |
| With thousand rare encolorings; | |
| And as it flies it gently sings; | |
| Chor. | Love honey yields, but never stings. | | | | |
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