Love’s Dominion

The world wouldn’t term you as pretty,

     Nor would it acknowledge you fair;

The world wouldn’t term you as witty,

     Nor clever nor saintly nor rare.

But its verdict is far from alarming,

     The world is mistaken and small;

To me you are clever and charming,

     The queenliest sweetheart of all.

So away with the world’s poor opinion,

     We can wander our journey alone;

We will hie off to love’s pure dominion,

     And live in a world of our own.

May 13, 1899