Poems (Robert Underwood Johnson)/Good Measure of Love
GOOD MEASURE OF LOVE
One twilight was there when it seemed
New stars beneath young eyelids gleamed;
New stars beneath young eyelids gleamed;
In vain the warning clock would creep
Anear the hour of beauty-sleep;
Anear the hour of beauty-sleep;
In vain the trundle yearned to hold
Far-Eyes and little Heart-of-Gold;
Far-Eyes and little Heart-of-Gold;
And love that kisses are the stuff of
At last for once there was enough of,
At last for once there was enough of,
As though of all Affection's round
The fond climacteric had been found—
The fond climacteric had been found—
Each childish fancy heaping more,
Like spendthrift from a miser-store,
Like spendthrift from a miser-store,
Till stopped by hug and stayed by kiss—
The sweet contention ran like this:
The sweet contention ran like this:
"How much do I love you?" (I remember but part
Of the words of the troth of this lover)
"I love you"—he said—"why—I love you—a heart
Brimful and running over.
Of the words of the troth of this lover)
"I love you"—he said—"why—I love you—a heart
Brimful and running over.
"I love you a hundred!" said he, with a squeeze.
"A thousand!" said she, as she nestled;
"A million!" he cried in triumphant ease
While she with the numbers wrestled.
"A thousand!" said she, as she nestled;
"A million!" he cried in triumphant ease
While she with the numbers wrestled.
"Aha! I have found it!" she shouted, "aha!"
(The red to the soft cheeks mounting)
"I love you—I love you—I love you, Papa,
Over the last of the counting!"
(The red to the soft cheeks mounting)
"I love you—I love you—I love you, Papa,
Over the last of the counting!"