Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By BayardTaylor459 To M. T.
T
Yet its gift is rarer;
In my youth I thought thee fair:
Thou art older and fairer!
Now day and night are;
For the presence, then so bright,
Is closer, brighter.
Its best of blisses:
Sweeter than the stolen kiss
Are the granted kisses.
The love abiding,
Are the words that fondly chide,
When love needs chiding.
For which love longeth,
Is the tender fear of wrong,
That never wrongeth.
May awhile seem nearer:
Thou art mine so many a year,
The older, the dearer!