Classic Poem

Little Princess of the small slipper,
And the great heart,
Here is my gift, see!
(From all other gifts apart):
A little token of ivory,
White, like thy flesh,
Flushed as thy lips.
With a mesh
Of carven figures bordering the edges:
Sailing ships
By river ledges
Where brown girls leap
Into the waters deep;
And tranced peach trees
Guarding their sanctities. …
Little Princess, see!
And in the pool, a mirrored me
Making obeisance to thee,
Little Princess of the fan, and the almond eyes,
With the bird-of-paradise
Woven into thy gown
Up and down,
And crosswise. …
Oh, the sandal-scent of thy breath!
One word, for life or death?
Speak, little Princess!
The orioles sing above:
Is the one word,—love?