Madrigal

Read "Madrigal" at The Eldritch Dark:

http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/poetry/315/madrigal

Once again, we have a poem from Clark Ashton Smith (CAS) that he attributed to the pseudonymous Christophe des Laurières.  As with the other des Laurières poems, "Madrigal" has an erotic side, but an unusual delicacy as well:


Low-lidded eyes thou hast,
But all too beautiful for love to bear:
Fain would I kiss them fast
Like tranquil flowers closing
Tired with the burden of the sunset air.


The phrase "Like tranquil flowers closing / Tired with the burden of the sunset air" is rather magical, expressing a tenderness not often seen in CAS' work.