The speaker opens with a burst of excitement, asking whether he has forgotten beauty, then answers himself with a firm "NAY." He recalls the delicate cherry blossom, with its white petals, pink tinge and yellow stamen, and then admits his attention has shifted. He is now absorbed in a lover's body, which he addresses directly.
The middle section reads almost like a list of discoveries: legs, thighs, eyes, fingers, hands. The plain, short lines make each detail feel noticed and treasured. The capitalized "BIG SIMPLE IDEAS" in the "BOOK OF FLESH" suggests the body is something to be studied and read, and the speaker's cheerful claim, "I'm a scholar," is both funny and sincere.
The poem ends quietly, with the faint scent of pussywillows seen "gray through dew." After the loud, eager voice, this soft image leaves a calm, tender mood. It also hints that natural beauty and physical desire belong together rather than compete.