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                           POEMS OF PLEASURE

      [Illustration: Ella Wheeler Wilcox; signature and portrait]




                          POEMS OF PLEASURE.

                                  BY

                         ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

                               AUTHOR OF

           “POEMS OF PASSION.” “MAURINE.” “MAL MOULEE” ETC.

                               CHICAGO:

                         W. B. CONKEY COMPANY.

                                 1897.

                                 1888.
                             Copyright By
                         BELFORD CLARKE & CO.

                                 1892.
                             Copyright By
                        MORRILL, HIGGINS & CO.
                         All rights reserved.

                                 1893.
                             Copyright By
                         W. B. CONKEY COMPANY.




         CONTENTS.


                                       PAGE.

Part I. Passional                         7

Part II. Philosophical                   51

Part III. Miscellaneous                  91




         PASSIONAL.




         POEMS OF PLEASURE.




         SURRENDER.


    Love, when we met, ’twas like two planets meeting.
      Strange chaos followed; body, soul, and heart
    Seemed shaken, thrilled, and startled by that greeting.
      Old ties, old dreams, old aims, all torn apart
    And wrenched away, left nothing there the while
      But the great shining glory of your smile.

    I knew no past; ’twas all a blurred, bleak waste;
      I asked no future; ’twas a blinding glare.
    I only saw the present: as men taste
      Some stimulating wine, and lose all care,
    I tasted