by Robert Herrick (1591 – 1674)
A sweet disorder in the dress
Kindles in clothes a wantonness:
A lawn about the shoulders thrown
Into a fine distraction —
An erring lace, which here and there
Enthrals the crimson stomacher —
A cuff neglectful, and thereby
Ribbands to flow confusedly —
A winning wave, deserving note,
In the tempestuous petticoat —
A careless shoe-string, in whose tie
I see a wild civility —
Do more bewitch me than when art
Is too precise in every part.
Copyright 1996-2019 TheRomantic.com