Poems (Smith)/Love, What is It?

by Martha A. Smith

LOVE, WHAT IS IT?

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Love, what is it? An exquisite feeling,
 Beautiful only if a lifelong dream.
Later in life we may not possess it:
 Life is the happier as it may seem.

Love if forsaken the heart maybe breaking;
 Joys if once lost we can never redeem.
Though we may strive to gain Cupid's favor,
 Forever gone from us is love's lost dream.

Love, as it should be, each one caressing,—
 True to each other,with fondest devotion,
No shadow of doubt to mar the affection,—
 Is not this ideal love's truest emotion?

Heavenly love!—oh, may we possess it,
 And go from this world to mansions above.
Earthly love can not compare with the joys
 Of our Heavenly Father's protecting love.