The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter/To Clarissa

by Dora Sigerson Shorter

TO CLARISSA

Clarissa, when you passed me by
With scornful Up and haughty eye,
        My fault I did deplore,
Your anger, like a poisoned dart,
Struck death into my guilty heart,
        I vowed to sin no more.

Clarissa, when you did forgive
And bid my fainting heart to live,
        Nor killed me with disdain,
So soft your eye, so sweet your lip,
Where like a bee I hung to sip,
        I fain would sin again.