ONE twilight was there when it seemed New stars beneath young eyelids gleamed; In vain the warning clock would creep Anear the hour of beauty-sleep; In vain the trundle yearned to hold Far-Eyes and little Heart-of-Gold; And love that kisses are the stuff of At last for once there was enough of, As though of all Affection's round The fond climacteric had been found -- Each childish fancy heaping more, Like spendthrift from a miser-store, Till stopped by hug and stayed by kiss -- The sweet contention ran like this: "How much do I love you?" (I remember but part Of the words of the troth of this lover) "I love you" -- he said -- "why -- I love you -- a heart Brimful and running over. "I love you a hundred!" said he, with a squeeze. "A thousand!" said she, as she nestled; "A million!" he cried in triumphant ease While she with the numbers wrestled. "Aha! I have found it!" she shouted, "aha!" (The red to the soft cheeks mounting) "I love you -- I love you -- I love you, Papa, Over the last of the counting!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PICTURES OF MEMORY by ALICE CARY THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY [1621] by MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON THE TEARS OF THE POPLARS by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS ARAB LOVE SONG by FRANCIS THOMPSON THE MAIDEN CITY by CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH TONNA |