Balkonscene

The Kiss

Siegfried Sassoon (1886–1967).  The Old Huntsman and Other Poems.  1918.

10. The Kiss

TO these I turn, in these I trust—
Brother Lead and Sister Steel.
To his blind power I make appeal,
I guard her beauty clean from rust.
He spins and burns and loves the air,	5
And splits a skull to win my praise;
But up the nobly marching days
She glitters naked, cold and fair.
Sweet Sister, grant your soldier this:
That in good fury he may feel	10
The body where he sets his heel
Quail from your downward darting kiss.