laban.rsGeorge OrwellPoems → Romance

George Orwell

Romance

[Burmese girl]

When I was young and had no sense
In far-off Mandalay
I lost my heart to a Burmese girl
As lovely as the day.

Her skin was gold, her hair was jet,
Her teeth were ivory;
I said ‘For twenty silver pieces,
Maiden, sleep with me.’

She looked at me, so pure, so sad,
The loveliest thing alive,
And in her lisping, virgin voice,
Stood out for twenty-five.

1925

THE END

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George Orwell: ‘Romance’
First published: Bernard Crick: “George Orwell: A Life”. — GB, London. — 1925.

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Machine-readable version: Dragan Laban

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George Orwell: A Life
[Front cover]
© 1980—1992 Penguin Books.