For an Amorous Lady.

'Most mammals like caresses, in the sense in which we usually take the word, whereas other creatures, even tame snakes, prefer giving to receiving them.'  From a natural-history book.

The pensive gnu, the staid aardvark,

Accept caresses in the dark;

The bear, equipped with paw and snout;

Would rather take than dish it out.

But snakes, both poisonous and garter,

In love are never known to barter;

The worm, though dank, is sensitive:

His noble nature bids him to give.

But you, my dearest, have a soul

Encompassing fish, flesh, and fowl.

When amorous arts we would pursue,

You can, with pleasure, bill or coo.

You are, in truth, one in a million,

At once mammalian and reptilian.

-Theodore Roethke.

I liked how this one had a bit of science to back it up. Love poems for today because fiction is a weekend thing.