SMILES

By William H. Davies

I saw a black girl once,

As black as winter's night;

Till through her parted lips

There came a flood of light;

It was the milky way

Across her face so black:

Her two lips closed again,

And night came back.

I see a maiden now,

Fair as a summer's day;

Yet through her parted lips

I see the milky way;

It makes the broad daylight

In summer time look black:

Her two lips close again,

And night comes back.