When Lida Smiles

When Lida smiles the world is bright,

     And flowers bloom along the way;

When Lida smiles the darkest night

     Turns into an iridescent day.

There’s joy abroad, on land and sea

When Lida deigns to smile on me.

When Lida smiles the music strains

     Sound sweeter than they did before;

An atmosphere of motion reigns

     As she trips lightly o’er the floor.

The muse pours out her poesy

When Lida throws her smile at me.

Anon I have a cloudy day,

     Days when the sun has hid its head;

Days when my heart has turned to clay,

     When hope within feels cold and dead.

Those are the days ’tis plain to see,

When Lida fails to smile on me.

O, Lida, would you save my life,

     And would you have me happy be?

Would you dispel the daily strife

     That otherwise would compass me?

Then Lida, smile when I am near,

And fill my daily life with cheer.

June 4, ‘10