Love

Believe, If You Can

by Charles Mackay, LL.D. born 1814; living 1855–57

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, vol. 6 (1855–57)

Love

Hope cannot cheat us,
Or Fancy betray;
Tempests ne'er scatter
The blossoms of May;
The wild winds are constant,
By method and plan;
Oh! believe me, believe me,
Believe if you can!

Young Love, who shews us
His midsummer light,
Spreads the same halo
O'er Winter's dark night;
And Fame never dazzles
To lure and trepan;
Oh! believe me, believe me,
Believe if you can!

Friends of the sunshine
Endure in the storm;
Never they promise
And fail to perform.
And the night ever ends
As the morning began;
Oh! believe me, believe me,
Believe if you can!

Words softly spoken
No guile ever bore;
Peaches ne'er harbour
A worm at the core;
And the ground never slipp'd
Under high-reaching man;
Oh! believe me, believe me,
Believe if you can!

Seas undeceitful,
Calm smiling at morn,
Wreck not ere midnight
The sailor forlorn.
And gold makes a bridge
Every evil to span;
Oh! believe me, believe me,
Believe if you can.

✦ ✦ ✦

Music by the Author.

MLA

Mackay, Charles, LL.D. “Believe, If You Can.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mackay_c/5/.

Chicago

Mackay, Charles, LL.D. “Believe, If You Can.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mackay_c/5/.

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