Only Verbena Would Smell…

Only Verbena Would Smell as Sweet (from Guy de Maupassant’s story “A Bad Error”)

I borrowed this from a short story Guy de Maupassant wrote in the 1880's. I'll always remember the imagined scent of verbena.

————

The maid of my betrothed stood fully clothed,

her face away from where I entered in

so quietly, not knowing I’d unclothed

her gracious form within my mind—this sin

so common to all men who love a lass

(yet love her servants also—None the less!)

who shares with him the secrets which surpass

his vain attempts at breaching their mistress.

Then lifting up her skirts so I could plant

a loving kiss where gracious limbs converge,

surprised, I heard the rancor of a rant

as mistress would, instead of maid, emerge!

Though banished from her presence evermore,

verbena’s now the perfume I adore!

By Ken Gosse

From: United States

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