The Trio

We love but once. The great gold orb of light From dawn to eventide doth cast his ray; But the full splendour of his perfect might Is reached but once throughout the live-long day. We love but once. The waves, with ceaseless motion, Do day and night plash on the pebbled shore; But the strong tide of the resistless ocean Sweeps in but one hour of the twenty-four. We love but once. A score of times, perchance, We may be moved in fancy’s fleeting fashion – May treasure up a word, a tone, a glance, But only once we feel the soul’s great passion. We love but once. Love walks with death and birth (The saddest, the unkindest of the three): And only once while we sojourn on earth Can that strange trio come to you or me.