Classic Poem

They say that I love thee, that thou art to me
As the gods to the heathen, — a fair deity.
And they tell but the truth when they say thou art dear;
For, as blossoms so fair in the morn of the year,
Do I oft hail thy presence, — a star on my way;
And thy smile is as welcome as bright, sunny May.

Oh, yes, I do love thee! and welcome to me
Comes thy sweet, merry laugh, like a song o'er the sea.
Thou cheerest my pathway like music; thy smile
Doth oft from its sorrows my spirit beguile:
Then why should I not write thy name on my heart,
And pray that our spirits no earth-power may part?

They say that I love thee: oh! why should I not
Rejoice, when I meet in Life's desert a spot
So like an oasis my spirit would rest,
And in each friendly shade for a season be blest;
Since shadows oft gather in earth's narrow sky,
We should bask in all sunshine which God may bring nigh.

They say that I love thee: they think that I bow
At the shrine of the earth-born to offer my vow.
Yes, truly, but only through loved ones to pay
My homage to him whom we honor alway.
In Jesus I love my heart's chosen alone,
And the Saviour of sinners sits on my heart's throne.

May he bless to our spirits the love that we share,
And fill our earth-lives with love, labor, and prayer,
Till he crowns us his own in the mansions above,
The home of the souls he hath here sought to love,
Where our prayers are for praises exchanged ever more,
And all labor for rest on the heavenly shore!