Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | I. Admiration | | A Budget of Paradoxes | | John Martley (1844–1882) |
| | | CHILD in thy beauty; empress in thy pride; | |
| Sweet and unyielding as the summer’s tide; | |
| Starlike to tremble, starlike to abide. | |
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| Guiltless of wounding, yet more true than steel; | |
| Gem-like thy light to flash and to conceal; | 5 |
| Tortoise to bear, insect to see and feel. | |
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| Blushing and shy, yet dread we thy disdain; | |
| Smiling, a sunbeam fraught with hints of rain; | |
| Trilling love-notes to freedom’s fierce refrain. | |
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| The days are fresh, the hours are wild and sweet, | 10 |
| When spring and winter, dawn and darkness meet; | |
| Nymph, with one welcome, thee and these we greet. | | | | |
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