Jester's Desire

... and as the princess stood on the balcony,
the jester knelt down and declaimed:

May breezy winds unwind
the plaited mane of hair
that - strictly bound - you wear
and let it down

to make - both - wild and kind
it flow, oh lady fair!
As certainly I would not dare
such flippancy,
which makes me frown.

And afterwards let me caress
the apples' softly tempting pair
occult beneath the flowing hair,
while fiery brown

your eyes make me confess
that like a flare
I'm burning up. Beware!
I surely will ignite, unless
you deem me more
than just a clown.