Page:Stars of the Desert.djvu/27



A intensely blue, a low, white wall Against it heaps of up-blown yellow sand, A sleeping figure, holding in her hand Some scarlet cactus blossom; that was all. And yet so mellowly the sunbeams fell Upon the sunburnt limbs, such subtle play Of rosy light and tender shadow lay Upon the upturned face, that all could tell An artist painted with a poet's eyes; And warmly an enthusiastic glow Ran through the groups that criticised below While one, who gazed with pleasure and surprise Said, and I do not think he said amiss, "He was her lover when he painted this!" 15