T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Surrender
By Olga Mishkin(1921) THE NIGHT shades are lowering; | |
| The sun in the heavens, like a king in all his glory | |
| Adorned in dazzling raiment which reflects its colors in the mirrored skies, | |
| Slowly and majestically bows himself away from off the earth, | |
| Leaving the world to encroaching darkness; | 5 |
| To the mysteries of night. | |
| And I?—I am afraid; | |
| My heart trembles and sinks with fear and expectation of what awaits me; | |
| In my brain there is confusion | |
| And my thoughts run wildly, beating against my throbbing temples— | 10 |
| Shrieking their mockery and derision as I gaze after the last rays of light, | |
| Seeking protection and solace in the dying day. | |
| How I long to weep—Yet am I not happy? | |
| How I could dance and laugh and scream with mad joy: | |
| But a mournful sadness steals over my heart and I shiver with cold; | 15 |
| Something—something is ebbing away from within me. | |
| The minutes are fleeing fast, | |
| And soon—I shall lie in the warm embrace of my Love. | |
| He will draw me close to him—and a little closer, | |
| And his strong arms will soothe my quivering body: | 20 |
| And his tender kisses will cool the fever of my burning lips, | |
| And through his gentleness and compassion, he will leave my soul untouched, unscarred | |
| And my love for him will grow a thousand fold, | |
| And with happiness I will lay my virginity at his feet, | |
| And with joy— | 25 |
| But oh, my God, how I fear!… | |
| The sun shines brightly— | |
| It is a new day— | |
| It is all over…. | |
| My heart is cold—and I am sad, | 30 |
| And how I loathe the bright sun and the merry birds and the beautiful flowers. | |
| It is all over…. | |