My love lay deep in perfect somnolence. <br />I took her, spent my force, and had my will; <br />and heard the night go chattering in suspense <br />of dawn—all else was beautiful and still. <br /> <br />Although it was a new experience, <br />I mostly felt the liberating thrill <br />of needing no one, an island of the sense, <br />the pure access of appetite to fill. <br /> <br />The act was wholly selfish, no pretense. <br />It was not making love, it was to swill <br />upon an object of white innocence, <br />in such a way my readers should think ill, <br /> <br />or graceless be themselves, but in defense <br />what harm, what shame, what false, what did I kill?<br /><br />Edward Wright Haile<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/zz-212-what-harm-what-shame-what-false/
