 | The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter |  |
A WARNING.
Place your hands in mine, dear,
With their rose-leaf touch:
If you heed my warning,
It will spare you much.
With their rose-leaf touch:
If you heed my warning,
It will spare you much.
Ah! with just such smiling
Unbelieving eyes,
Years ago I heard it:—
You shall be more wise.
Unbelieving eyes,
Years ago I heard it:—
You shall be more wise.
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You have one great treasure,
Joy for all your life;
Do not let it perish
In one reckless strife.
Joy for all your life;
Do not let it perish
In one reckless strife.
Do not venture all, child,
In one frail, weak heart;
So, through any shipwreck,
You may save a part.
In one frail, weak heart;
So, through any shipwreck,
You may save a part.
Where your soul is tempted
Most to trust your fate,
There, with double caution,
Linger, fear, and wait
Most to trust your fate,
There, with double caution,
Linger, fear, and wait
Measure all you give—still
Counting what you take;
Love for love: so placing
Each an equal stake.
Counting what you take;
Love for love: so placing
Each an equal stake.
Treasure love; though ready
Still to live without.
In your fondest trust, keep
Just one thread of doubt.
Still to live without.
In your fondest trust, keep
Just one thread of doubt.
Build on no to-morrow;
Love has but to-day:
If the links seem slackening,
Cut the bond away.
Love has but to-day:
If the links seem slackening,
Cut the bond away.
Trust no prayer nor promise;
Words are grains of sand:
To keep your heart unbroken,
Hold it in your hand.
Words are grains of sand:
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Hold it in your hand.
That your love may finish
Calm as it begun,
Learn this lesson better,
Dear, than I have done.
Calm as it begun,
Learn this lesson better,
Dear, than I have done.
Years hence, perhaps, this warning
You shall give again,
In just the self-same words, dear,
And—just as much—in vain.
You shall give again,
In just the self-same words, dear,
And—just as much—in vain.
| The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter | |