Plein Air
Plein Air
Original Text
Caprices: Poems by Theodore Wratislaw (London: Gay and Bird, 1893): 43. Facsimile edition (New York and London: Garland, 1984). PR 6045 R34 C3 1984
2Tall stocks that stained the garden walk
3With crimson, heard our amorous talk
4And blushed to know that she was won.
5The golden mirth of sunflowers eyed
7Shed balmy breaths of scent in hope
8Of her virginity untied.
9So when the moon rose in the south
10And trailed about the shadowy vine
11I felt her breasts pant under mine
12And her breath sobbing in my mouth.
Notes
1] Plein Air: "from the Fr. phrase en plein air ... ‘in the open air’ (lit. ‘in full air’): used attrib. to denominate certain impressionist schools and styles of painting, which originated in France about 1870, and aimed at the representation of effects of atmosphere and light that cannot be observed in the studio" (OED "plein-air").
Wratislaw dedicates this poem "To Oscar Wilde. Back to Line
Wratislaw dedicates this poem "To Oscar Wilde. Back to Line
6] heliotrope: herb with small clustered purple flowers, named for its turning to follow the sun. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2005
Rhyme
Form