Applauding youths laughed with young prostitutes
And watched her perfect , half-clothed body sway;
Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes
Blown by black players upon a picnic day.
She sang and danced on gracefully and calm ,
The light gauze hanging loose about her form ;
To me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm
Grown lovelier for passing through a storm .
Upon her swarthy neck black shiny curls
Luxuriant fell; and tossing coins in praise ,
The wine-flushed , bold-eyed boys , and even the girls ,
Devoured her shape with eager, passionate gaze;
But looking at her falsely-smiling face,
I knew her self was not in that strange place .
And watched her perfect , half-clothed body sway;
Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes
Blown by black players upon a picnic day.
She sang and danced on gracefully and calm ,
The light gauze hanging loose about her form ;
To me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm
Grown lovelier for passing through a storm .
Upon her swarthy neck black shiny curls
Luxuriant fell; and tossing coins in praise ,
The wine-flushed , bold-eyed boys , and even the girls ,
Devoured her shape with eager, passionate gaze;
But looking at her falsely-smiling face,
I knew her self was not in that strange place .
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