I Love my Love, and my Love Loves me

The life of life's when for another we're living,
Whose spirit responds to oars like a sweet Psalter;

When heart-smiles are burning, and flame- words out-
giving
The fire we have lit on the heart's holy Altar!

O Love, God's religion! Love, fervid and starried!
The soul must be beautiful where thou art palaced;

I mark where thy kiss-seal is set on the forehead,
I know where thy dew of heaven's richliest chaliced.
That radiant brow breaketh thro' cloud and world-
stain,
And strong is that soul in the battle of Duty;
Smiling May sunshine thro' Life's Winter-rain,
All outer things clothing with inner world beauty!
'Tis writ in the face, whose heart singeth for glee,
" I love my Love, and my Love loves me."

Once I was a-weary of life and the world,
And the voice of Delight on my heart fell accurst,
And my eyes oft with tear-drops unweetingly pearl'd,
I had no one to love, tho' with Love my heart burst:

Then on me a sweet dream of Paradise stole —
Turn'd to radiance the shadows that brooded around
me:

And walking the gardens that Eden my soul,
One morning, my Love, like another Eve, found me;
He lookt, and a maelstrom of joy whirled my bosom;

He smiled, and my being ran bliss to the brim:
He spake, and my eager heart flusht into blossom;
Dear Heaven! 'twas the music set to my Life's
hymn!

And up went my soul to God, shouting for glee —
" I love my Love, and my Love loves me."

I know, Love of mine! time may nevermore bring
Back the lost freshness that clad my young heart:
But, looking on thee, dear! sweet thoughts will up-
spring,
As from the cold tomb the green verdure will start!
I look in thine eyes, and, O joy to the weeper!

Their love-light makes sunshine of all my dark fears;
And what made my heart faint, lifts it now, a strong
leaper!

The rivers of bliss flood its channels of tears.
I had deem'd its wealth flung on sands barren and
burning,
And sweet 'tis to find my Life's current again,
Caught up in thy Love's precious chalice — returning
Like dew that hath been to heaven, dropping in rain.
And my heart's perpetual hymn shall be,
" I love my Love, and my Love loves me."