Poem: “Orientale III” by Edward Estlin Cummings

Tulips and Chimneys – 1923

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American Literature – American Poetry – Edward Estlin Cummings – Poems by Edward Estlin Cummings – Tulips and Chimneys – 1923

< < < Orientale II
Orientale IV > > >

Orientale III

my love
thy hair is one kingdom
the king whereof is darkness
thy forehead is a flight of flowers

thy head is a quick forest
filled with sleeping birds
thy breasts are swarms of white bees
upon the bough of thy body
thy body to me is April
in whose armpits is the approach of spring

thy thighs are white horses yoked to a chariot
of kings
they are the striking of a good minstrel
between them is always a pleasant song

my love
thy head is a casket
of the cool jewel of thy mind
the hair of thy head is one warrior
innocent of defeat
thy hair upon thy shouders is an army
with victory and with trumpets

thy legs are the trees of dreaming
whose fruit is the very eatage of forgetfulness

thy lips are satraps in scarlet
in whose kiss is the combining of kings
thy wrists
are holy
which are the keepers of the keys of thy blood
thy feet upon thy ankles are flowers in vases
of silver

in thy beauty is the dilemma of flutes

thy eyes are the betrayal
of bells comprehended through incense

< < < Orientale II
Orientale IV > > >

American Literature – American Poetry – Edward Estlin Cummings – Poems by Edward Estlin Cummings – Tulips and Chimneys – 1923

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Tulips and Chimneys – 1923

Orientale III

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