Classic Poem

Love bids me twine
These flowers of mine,
And, joyful in a joyful duty,
I hail your May,
Your golden day,
Your morn of sweetness, strength, and beauty
And not alone,
In gentle tone,
A careless grace of thought revealing,
I bid my heart
To yours impart
Its deepest truth of sacred feeling.

Since Heaven doth bless
The tenderness
Of hearts that truly love each other;
Since every year
Doth more endear
The heavenly names of wife and mother;
Since angels charm
Their way from harm
Whose thoughts are gentle, pure, and lowly;
To you, I know,
Life must come so
As only to be sweet and holy.

And so I twine
These flowers of mine
With glad belief that Love will guide you
In cheerful ways,
Through happy days,
With calm content to dwell beside you:
With strength to bear
Your earthly care,
'Neath stars of joy, serene and tender;
With hope, the prize
Of Paradise,
To fold you in its fadeless splendor.