To A Certain Woman

 I see in your eyes
    Black diamonds
                   Of Hindustan
    Figure silks
                   Of Lahore
    Scarlet flames
                   Of Fuji-Yama

    And the flames are there
                   Brightness
    The figured silks there
                   Dusk
    The black diamonds there
                   Colour

 I see in your heart
    Yellow cobras
                   Of Burma
    Deadly fungi
                   Of Bengal
    Poison flowers
                   Of Nepal

    And the poison flowers
                   Are your vows
    The deadly fungi
                   Your kisses
    The yellow cobras
                  Your deceits

From Caroling Dusk (Harper & Brothers, 1927), edited by Countee Cullen. This poem is in the public domain.