epithalamium

though the wabe has its uses too,
who in their senses will not prefer
the graceful bumble-bee to the hive
and the honey, rich and preserving,
to the transient rose?

richer than bloom is the candled night,
when a girl outgrows quite decent prettiness
to don the goddess' garb:
vermilion to set off her rosier nails,
anklets and jingly toe-rings to faintly
accentuate her burrowing voice,
kajal less deeply black than her pupil
and silk to envy her hair.

let her walk with you on the sands
with the stable hand restraining the lion,
gracefully nodding her head in dimmed limelight,
while she hands you the swords to swallow
and fire to breathe -
every clap of each hand is hers
for reading your every thought.