Classic Poem

Love, sweet love is the poet's theme;
Love, sweet love is the poet's dream.
What is the love of which they sing?
Only a phantom unreal thing.
'Tis but the dalliance, the dalliance of youth and maid;
'Tis but the passion, the passion of vows that fade.
'Tis not the Heav'n, the Heav'n-implanted glow
That true hearts call love, ah no, ah no!

See a mother gazing on her baby boy
With ecstatic eyes and heart that fills with joy;
He to her is purest gold without alloy;
For him she prays to Heav'n above!
How she guides his footsteps thro' this vale of strife;
Watches o'er his bedside when infection's rife,
Risking for her baby boy her health, her life.
That is love, that is love!

Love, sweet love — how the word's misplaced!
Love, sweet love — how the word's disgraced!
What is a fond lover's glance?
What is a shy maiden's advance?
What is the pressure, the pressure of am'rous lips?
What is the pressure, the pressure of finger tips?
Only the pleasure, the joys of a passing day.
'Tis not the love that will live for aye.

See a father standing at his cottage door,
Watching baby in the gutter rolling o'er;
Laughing at his merry pranks — but hark, a roar!
Help, oh help him, gracious Heav'n above!
Dashing down the road there comes a madden'd horse:
Out the father rushes with resistless force;
Saves the child — but there he lies, a mangled corse.
That is love, that is love!

Oh, the love of a faithful friend!
True, true love that will never end!
Where can such friendship be found on earth?
In true hearts alone it findeth birth.
Friends meet friends, and they vow, they vow to cling.
Often, alas, doth their love, their love take wing.
Seldom, alas, can such faithful friendship be
As that of two comrades who went to sea.

When a squall had struck the ship and she was lost,
Clinging to a plank the chums were tempest-toss'd;
But the plank was water-logged and sank almost —
One of them must meet his God above.
One of them said, " Jack, the plank will not hold two;
You've a wife and children, so I'll die for you.
Goodbye, Jack. " He leaves the plank and sinks from view.
That is love, that is love!