o fleece, that foams down unto the shoulders bare!

o curls, o scents which lovely languidness exhale!

delight! to fill this alcove's sombre atmosphere

with memories, sleeping deep within this tress of hair,

i'll wave it in the evening breezes like a veil!

the shores of africa, and asia's burning skies,

a world forgotten, distant, nearly dead and spent,

within thy depths, o aromatic forest! lies.

and like to spirits floating unto melodies,

mine own, belovèd! glides within thy sacred scent.

there i will hasten, where the trees and humankind

with languor lull beside the hot and silent sea;

strong tresses bear me, be to me the waves and wind!

within thy fragrance lies a dazzling dream confined

of sails and masts and flames—o lake of ebony!

a loudly echoing harbour, where my soul may hold

to quaff, the silver cup of colours, scents and sounds,

wherein the vessels glide upon a sea of gold,

and stretch their mighty arms, the glory to enfold

of virgin skies, where never-ending heat abounds.

i'll plunge my brow, enamoured with voluptuousness

within this darkling ocean of infinitude,

until my subtle spirit, which thy waves caress,

shall find you once again, o fertile weariness;

unending lullabye of perfumed lassitude!

ye tresses blue—recess of strange and sombre shades,

ye make the azure of the starry realm immense;

upon the downy beeches, by your curls' cascades,

among your mingling fragrances, my spirit wades

to cull the musk and cocoa-nut and lotus scents.

long—foraye—my hand, within thy heavy mane,

shall scatter rubies, pearls, sapphires eternally,

and thus my soul's desire for thee shall never wane;

for art not thou the oasis where i dream and drain

with draughts profound, the golden wine of memory?