Page:Tortoises, DH Lawrence, 1921.djvu/35

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LUI ET ELLE

She does not even know she is nipping me with
    her curved beak.
Snake-like she draws at my finger, while I drag
    it in horror away.

Mistress, reptile mistress,
You are almost too large, I am almost frightened.

He is much smaller,
Dapper beside her,
And ridiculously small.

Her laconic eye has an earthy, materialistic look,
His, poor darling, is almost fiery.

His wimple, his blunt-prowed face,
His low forehead, his skinny neck, his long,
    scaled, striving legs,
So striving, striving,
Are all more delicate than she,
And he has a cruel scar on his shell.

Poor darling, biting at her feet,
Running beside her like a dog, biting her earthy,
    splay feet,

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