In the caresses of thy mane I find once 
more the langours of long hours passed on a 
divan, in the cabin of a tall ship; hours rocked 
by the imperceptible roll of the cradling har-
bour, among jars of flowers and cooling foun-
tains. 
In the blazing hearth of thy mane I breathe 
the scent of tobacco mixed with opium and 
sugar; in the night of thy mane I see glitter the 
infinity of tropical azure; upon the swan-soft 
banks of thy mane I intoxicate myself with the 
mingled odours of tar, of musk, and of the oil 
of coconut. 
Let me bite long, long, thy black and heavy 
tresses; when I nibble thine elastic and rebel-
lious hair it seems to me that I am eating 
memories.