Nymphetomania

[RiverNotch]

Nymphetomania



There's few years separating these two lovers,
five and fourteen and a hundred blend together
as easy as blood and water. But look no more
than twenty-three years later, when all the youth
he once loved in her's gone: the rosebush wilted

at the unnerving mixture, got switched
with a self-destroying hunger. Now he dreams
of days when girls were younger -- he's choked
by that raised chin, by those tremendous eyes,
by the pale fingers he hopes will crack "I crave you".

The scene: a reincarnated Millais looks at his former pictures, dreams of his former muse....



There's few years separating these two lovers,
five and fourteen and a hundred blend together
as easy as blood and water. But look no more
than twelve years later, when all the youth
he once loved in her's gone: the rosebush wilted

at the unnerving mixture, got switched
with a self-destroying hunger. Now, he dreams
of days when girls were younger -- he's choked
by that raised chin, by those tremendous eyes,
by the pale fingers he hopes will crack "I crave you".

[Achebe]

Nymphetomania

The scene: a reincarnated Millais looks at his former pictures, dreams of his former muse....

There's few years separating these two lovers,
five and fourteen and a hundred blend together
as easy as blood and water. But look no more
than twelve years later, when all the youth
he once loved in her's gone: the rosebush wilted

at the unnerving mixture, got switched
with a self-destroying hunger. Now, he dreams
of days when girls were younger -- he's choked
by that raised chin, by those tremendous eyes,
by the pale fingers he hopes will crack "I crave you".

I don't know if you need the reincarnation. The poem could work as well if Millais was just looking at the paintings at any time in his life. Slightly less mysterious.
The first painting, wikipedia tells me, was in 1857. The second, in 1880. That's 23 years, not 12.
Also, Sophy was 14 in the first one. That doesn't make her a nymphet strictly speaking.

[RiverNotch]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll let the italicized part simmer for now -- I want to see how other respond to it. I also think that fourteen does fit the rough age range of nymphet -- doesn't nymphet basically mean underage in most countries, but already somewhat sexually mature? As for twelve turned twenty-three -- d'oh! Thanks again!

[Achebe]

apparently you're just there - a nymphet is 9 to 14 according to Humbert Humbert, so she just qualifies.
the legal definition of underage is irrelevant, though. that has changed through human history.