I met Sylvia by a laughing stream

One fleeting fragment of a summer’s day,

She drifted to me as a sylph-borne dream,

Her raven hair festooned in ribbons gay;

Sweet-scented perfume wafted on the air,

Burnt ardor smoldering ‘neath the golden sun,

Her eyes afire, her fervent soul laid bare—

My heart rejoiced at what seemed triumph won.

Bright bloom kissed leas soft embered into night,

As sighs of love joined with cicada tunes;

Her naked skin lay silvered in faint light—

Cascading hair soft-rippled by the moon;

And flesh unto seared flesh in passion burned:

Of love or lust, two hearts lay unconcerned.