<h3><SPAN name="La_Chevelure" id="La_Chevelure"></SPAN>La Chevelure</h3>
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O fleece, that foams down unto the shoulders bare!<br/>
O curls, O scents which lovely languidness exhale!<br/>
Delight! to fill this alcove's sombre atmosphere<br/>
With memories, sleeping deep within this tress of hair,<br/>
I'll wave it in the evening breezes like a veil!<br/>
<br/>
The shores of Africa, and Asia's burning skies,<br/>
A world forgotten, distant, nearly dead and spent,<br/>
Within thy depths, O aromatic forest! lies.<br/>
And like to spirits floating unto melodies,<br/>
Mine own, Belovèd! glides within thy sacred scent.<br/>
<br/>
There I will hasten, where the trees and humankind<br/>
With languor lull beside the hot and silent sea;<br/>
Strong tresses bear me, be to me the waves and wind!<br/>
Within thy fragrance lies a dazzling dream confined<br/>
Of sails and masts and flames—O lake of ebony!<br/>
<br/>
A loudly echoing harbour, where my soul may hold<br/>
To quaff, the silver cup of colours, scents and sounds,<br/>
Wherein the vessels glide upon a sea of gold,<br/>
And stretch their mighty arms, the glory to enfold<br/>
Of virgin skies, where never-ending heat abounds.<br/>
<br/>
I'll plunge my brow, enamoured with voluptuousness<br/>
Within this darkling ocean of infinitude,<br/>
Until my subtle spirit, which thy waves caress,<br/>
Shall find you once again, O fertile weariness;<br/>
Unending lullabye of perfumed lassitude!<br/>
<br/>
Ye tresses blue—recess of strange and sombre shades,<br/>
Ye make the azure of the starry Realm immense;<br/>
Upon the downy beeches, by your curls' cascades,<br/>
Among your mingling fragrances, my spirit wades<br/>
To cull the musk and cocoa-nut and lotus scents.<br/>
<br/>
Long—foraye—my hand, within thy heavy mane,<br/>
Shall scatter rubies, pearls, sapphires eternally,<br/>
And thus my soul's desire for thee shall never wane;<br/>
For art not thou the oasis where I dream and drain<br/>
With draughts profound, the golden wine of memory?<br/></p>
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