Ad Manus Puellae

by Ernest Christopher Dowson — a poem card from Justes Mots

An ornate celebration of a beloved's hands, progressing from sensory detail and memory to a declaration of captivation. Dowson blends erotic admiration with spiritual longing, using the hands as both gateway and barrier to deeper intimacy. Ideal for romantic occasions emphasizing aesthetic appreciation and devoted passion.

I was always a lover of ladies' hands!
Or ever mine heart came here to tryst,
For the sake of your carved white hands' commands;
The tapering fingers, the dainty wrist;
The hands of a girl were what I kissed.

I remember an hand like a fleur-de-lys
When it slid from its silken sheath, her glove;…

Themes: love · new-baby · wedding · friendship