 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
325
A MISPLACED AFFECTION.
I
Quoth “I” to “Me:” “I love but thee,“And this affection strong,
“Whoever flouts, or scorns, or doubts,
“Shall last my whole life long.
“With thee I'll laugh, with thee I'll quaff—
“To thee I'll pass the wine;
“And share no grief that seeks relief,
“Except, dear ‘Me,’ 'tis thine!
“Thy hopes and fears, thy smiles and tears,
“Shall ever be mine own;—
“My best good friend, till life shall end!
“I'll cling to thee alone.”
II
But Love so true—as Love will do—Went piteously awry,
And sorrows keen and bickerings mean
Fell out 'twixt “Me” and “I.”
It came to pass that “Me”—alas!
Lay sick on bed of pain,
And none came near to soothe or cheer,
But “I,” who came in vain.
And “I” could see no hope for “Me,”
For scorning Nature's law;—
And so they sigh'd, and pined and died—
And nobody cared a straw!
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |