Classic Poem

The memories of yesternight,
When in that swift, bewildering dance,
The pressure of your hand, your glance,
All thrill me with a new delight.

The music wrapped us round and round,
While thus within the waltz we whirled,
Regardless of the crowd, the world;
The music wrapped us round and round.

And, listening to the quickened beat
Of hearts that beat a wilder tune
Than horn and harp and gay bassoon,
We floated on with tireless feet.

A thousand odors filled the air,—
Swept o'er us as we swept along,
Through all the mazy moving throng;
A thousand odors, wondrous rare,

Swept o'er us from a thousand flowers,
At every breathing of the breeze,
From lime and pomegranate trees,
And orange in the orange bowers.

From lilies with their creamy flush,
All splendors of the splendid rose,
Musk, moss, and cinnamon, in blows
And buds of crimson, white, and blush.

But more delicious than the scent
Of Orient shrub or orange-bloom,
The warm and subtly sweet perfume
Which in your breathing came and went;

Your breath, so soft and balmy sweet,
That touched my cheek, that stirred my hair,
That wandered o'er and o'er me there,
As faster fell our flying feet.

As faster, faster on, until
Beyond the long and gay saloon
We stood alone, beneath the moon,
In garden alleys, dusk and still.

The lights are out, and coldly through
The deepening dawn the day begins;
But still I hear the violins,
And still in dreams I waltz with you.