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Mixed Marriage
A geometric lily's horn
Stands out upon her crest's fair field:
The lion and the unicorn
Protect twin legends on his shield.
[zor]
The aloe's dark disturbing green
She tolerates among her plants:
In his trim garden may be seen
Pansies and pinks for spinster aunts.
They wrought a cool allegiance in
Stern terms of granted compromise;
She smothers all but graceful sin,
He every scandal-born surprise.
Each shows the other strange delights
To win their contract's ecstasy:
She tells her lore of flaming nights,
He traces horoscopes in tea.
Yet honor's shape is strangely drawn:
She rests at night a cautious head;
He bathes at secret with the dawn
Before his morning prayers are said.