Love’s Caress: A Poem

LOVE'S CARESS.

A good-by kiss is a little thing, With your hand on the door to go ,

But it takes the venom out of a sting Of a thoughtless word or a cruel fling That you made an hour ago.

A kiss of greeting is sweet and rare. After the toil of day; But it smoothes the furrows out of the care And lines on the forehead you once called fair. In the years that have flown away.

'Tis a little thing to say, "You are kind— I love you, my dear," each night; But it sends a thrill through the heart, I find. For love is tender, as love is blind, As we climb life's rugged height.

We starve each other for love's caress. We take but do not give It seems so easy some soul to bless,

But we dole love grudgingly, less and less, Till 'tisibitter and hard to live. — Selected.