Poems (May)/Lines written for a picture

by Edith May

LINES WRITTEN FOR A PICTURE.

Sing me to-night some gay refrain,
 Sweet rhymes that ring out peals of gladness,
Nor let thy jesting lips profane
 Even the name of sadness.

Put from thine eye its vague unrest,
 And chide the darkness from thy brow,
That we, who met with smile and jest,
 May part as lightly now.

We've scoffed at love, we've laughed at faith,
 (Ah, woe the while for you and me!)
No pledge that's breathed by human breath
 Were pledge to such as we.

Oh, we've trifled away the sweetest dreams
 Ever let loose from the courts above,
And linked our jests to the noblest themes
 God and the angels love!

Shame me no more with mimic sighs—
 Poor cheat of love! poor mock of woe:
But show me in thy lifted eyes
 The scorn I look thee now.