To A Certain Woman

I see in your eyes
    Black diamonds
                   Of Hindustan
    Figure silks
                   Of Lahore
    Scarlet flames
                   Of Fuji-Yama

And the flames are there
Brightness
The figured silks there
Dusk
The black diamonds there
Colour

I see in your heart
    Yellow cobras
                   Of Burma
    Deadly fungi
                   Of Bengal
    Poison flowers
                   Of Nepal

    And the poison flowers
                   Are your vows
    The deadly fungi
                   Your kisses
    The yellow cobras
                  Your deceits

Credit

From Caroling Dusk (Harper & Brothers, 1927), edited by Countee Cullen. This poem is in the public domain.

Author

Albert Rice

Albert Rice was born in Washington, D.C., in 1903. He attended grammar school in the city and later graduated from the famed Dunbar High School. After graduation, Rice entered the government service but left to move to New York City in the winter of 1926 to pursue a literary career.

Date Published

01/01/1927