Poems (Truesdell)/Love

by Helen Truesdell

For works with similar titles, see Love.

LOVE.

O love! how beautiful thou art!
 How pure and bright a gem,
Enshrined in woman's trusting heart,
 A peerless diadem.

Then choose, my friend, one generous heart,
 Congenial to thine own,—
Forsake all others for her sake,—
 Make there thine altar-throne.

Let other forms be young and fair,—
 Let other eyes be bright,—
Turn thou to thine own chosen one,
 With fond and pure delight.

Friendship, with love, would weave for thee
 A garland rich and rare,
And in a heart of prayerfulness
 Would fondly breathe a prayer.

That sorrow ne'er may cross thy path,
 Or make thy young heart sad;
May all thy hopes be joyousness,
 Thy spirit ever glad.