| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | Sonnet: “Idly she yawned, and threw her heavy hair” | | By George Moore (1852–1933) |
| | (From Pagan Poems, 1881)
IDLY she yawned, and threw her heavy hair | |
| Across her flesh-filled shoulders, called the maid, | |
| And slipped her sweet blonde body out of bed, | |
| Searching her slippers in the wintry air. | |
| |
| The fire shed over all a sullen glare,— | 5 |
| Then in her bath she sponged from foot to head, | |
| Her body, arms, breasts, thighs, and things unsaid, | |
| Powdered and dried herself with delicate care. | |
| |
| Then Zoë entered with the Figaro, | |
| The chocolate, the letters, and the cat, | 10 |
| And drew the blinds to show the falling snow, | |
| Upon the sofa still her mistress sat | |
| Drawing along her legs, as white as milk, | |
| Her long stockings of finely-knitted silk. | | | | |
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