One night I had some ghastly Jewish whore
We were a couple of corpses side by side
But dreamt of one whom my desire denied,
My dark and melancholy paramour.
Envisioning her form, her sovereign air,
The gaze, still fully armed with power and grace,
The casque of fragrant hair about her face,
Filled me with cold regret and love's fierce fire.
How eagerly I should have given you
Such kisses and caresses, head to toe,
As bartered flesh and blood may never know,
If but a single tear would form, like dew,
Some dawn on your dark cheek, to contravene
And melt your icy splendor, cruel queen!
- Charles Pierre Baudelaire (1821-1867)
