The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter/A Summer's Day

by Dora Sigerson Shorter

A SUMMER'S DAY

Well, love, so be it as you say,
Just the hours of a summer's day,
And no sighing for what comes after,
Whether it be tears or laughter.

Take my hand, and we go together
Into love's land of golden weather.
You to be king and I for queen;
Right royally to reign, I ween.

Cool amber wine in cups of gold
Bring maids, in rosy fingers' hold.
Lip-pledged, but, you'll say ere your drinking,
My loss were sweeter to your thinking.

And youths shall rob the spring for me
Of all the perfumed flowers that be;
I'll seek your eyes, and they refusing,
I'll answer only at your choosing.

So, love, your hand, and we away.
Just the hours of a summer's day,
And no weeping for what comes after—
If it be tears, we've had our laughter.