E.T.A. Hoffmann Muses On His Mistresses Poem by Paul Kesler

I take love lightly, but I'll vouch to thee:
A bow-legged mannequin can't interest me.

I take love lightly, but for true romance,
No corybantic zombie stands a chance.

I make love smoothly, but when sapling eyes
are framed by a pair of levers, they're no prize.

I stroke love warmly, but a face of frost
snowflaked on the windows comes at astronomic cost;

I forge love hotly, but the touch of tin
rides herd on the nether regions, and bangs the shins.

I slake love strongly, but in point of fact,
a Duchess of Tomatoes won't make a decent pact.

Yea, I love musically, but the sweetest tune
from the middle of a toadstool in the month of June,
Won't spare me all the agonies I've sweated here,
Up in the ivory tower with the smoke and beer.