First Evening Première Soirée

Her clothes were almost off;

Outside, a curious

Beat a branch at the

To see what it could see.

Perched on my enormous easy chair,

Half nude, she clasped her hands.

Her feet trembled on the floor,

As soft as they could be.

I watched as a ray of pale light,

Trapped in the tree outside,

Danced from her

To her breast, like a fly on a flower.

I kissed her delicate ankles.

She had a soft, brusque

That broke into shining crystals - A pretty little laugh.

Her feet ducked under her chemise;"Will you please stop it!…"But I laughed at her cries - I knew she really liked it.

Her eye trembled beneath my lips;

They closed at my touch.

Her head went back; she cried:"Oh, really!

That's too much!"My dear,

I'm warning you…"I stopped her protest with a

And she laughed, low - A laugh that wanted more than this…Her clothes were almost off;

Outside, a curious

Beat a branch at the

To see what it could see.

Original

Première Soirée"- Elle était fort

Et de grands arbres

Aux vitres jetaient leur

Malinement, tout près, tout près.

Assise sur ma grande chaise,

Mi-nue, elle joignait les mains.

Sur le plancher frissonnaient

Ses petits pieds si fins, si fins- Je regardai, couleur de

Un petit rayon

Papillonner dans son

Et sur son sein, - mouche ou rosier- Je baisai ses fines chevilles.

Elle eut un doux rire

Qui s'égrenait en claires trilles,

Un joli rire de

Les petits pieds sous la

Se sauvèrent : "Veux-tu en finir !"- La première audace permise,

Le rire feignait de punir !- Pauvrets palpitants sous ma lèvre,

Je baisai doucement ses yeux :- Elle jeta sa tête

En arrière : "Oh ! c'est encor mieux !..."Monsieur, j'ai deux mots à te dire..."- Je lui jetai le reste au

Dans un baiser, qui la fit rireD'un bon rire qui voulait bien.....- Elle était fort

Et de grands arbres

Aux vitres jetaient leur

Malinement, tout près, tout près