Poems & One Letter by Arthur Rimbaud
Three Kisses
Arthur Rimbaud
She was barely dressed
as huge trees indiscreetly
reached their leaves maliciously
very very close to the window.
Sitting half-naked in my chair
she was clasping her hands
while her little feet shuddered
with joy on the floor.
Pale as wax
I watched a tiny renegade ray
flutter in her smile
and then on her breasts
like a fly upon a rose.
I kissed her ankles
as her laughter assailed me
in clear soft
crystalline
trills.
Her delicate feet fled beneath her gown:
"Will you stop it!"
My act of brashness having been permitted
she was pretending to punish me.
With pathetic quiverings in my lips
I softly kissed her eyes.
Daintily she threw back her head:
"Sir, you're going too far!
I must inform you . . ."
I gave her the rest
in the breasts
as she laughed
at my kisses
willingly . . .
She was barely dressed
as huge trees indiscreetly
reached their leaves maliciously
very very close to the window.
Translated by Mark Spitzer