Page:What's O'Clock.djvu/185

"We are better employed," they declared, "contemplating the sky."

  Then I knocked at the door and entered in
  Like the orange flame of a hidden sin.
  I stood before her and there were three—
  The parrakeet and I and she.
  I tossed her arms apart and pressed
  Myself upon her, breast to breast,
  And the parrakeet was my bidden guest.
  I forced her lips till they caught on mine,
  And poured myself down her throat like wine.
  I mingled with her, part for part,
  But the parrakeet lay next her heart.
  Oh, sweeter than her lips were sweet
  Was my utter hate for that parrakeet.
  She fell from me like the withered shell
  Of a cranberry, and it was well;
  I stood on the other side of Hell.