To a Silent Girl
When the sklll’d fashioner of female faces
Designed your mask, he wrought with cunning fist,
And made a mouth expressly to be kiss’d -
Not for shrill utterance nor pert grimaces.
The curved, ripe lips—above the rounded chin—
He dyed the hue of summer’s reddest rose,
Then placed a smile upon them to disclose
A glimpse of white and even pearls within.
Those lips are silent, sweetheart! - but your eyes
Are eloquent, and they love’s lesson teach
Better than other woman’s aptest speech -
In their soft light the tend’rest language lies.
In womankind - the world has long confess’d -
A silent mouth and speaking eyes are best.
