Love's Beauty
All that I had I gave you, never dreaming
Of a return; for it was love I gave.
I gave as a star gives her beauty streaming
In deep of night to a dark western wave.
It was my spirit that I yielded to you,
Surrendering all things; and I asked no more
Than that my mystery none other knew
Should be the secret diadem you wore.
But love is richer than we ever know:
We lavish it, and love comes back to us
A thousandfold. How can I think it so?
How else? Our little child proclaims it thus.
For in him love returns, in flower and light,
More than I gave you in the glimmering night.
~ Archibald Rutledge
From my mother's poetry notebook
All that I had I gave you, never dreaming
Of a return; for it was love I gave.
I gave as a star gives her beauty streaming
In deep of night to a dark western wave.
It was my spirit that I yielded to you,
Surrendering all things; and I asked no more
Than that my mystery none other knew
Should be the secret diadem you wore.
But love is richer than we ever know:
We lavish it, and love comes back to us
A thousandfold. How can I think it so?
How else? Our little child proclaims it thus.
For in him love returns, in flower and light,
More than I gave you in the glimmering night.
~ Archibald Rutledge
From my mother's poetry notebook
