A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields/Love's Catechism (Anonymous)

LOVE'S CATECHISM.


ANONYMOUS.

Say, what is love? The word is not
An empty sound, a fleeting breath;
Love means two souls with but one thought,
Two hearts that throb like one, till death.

Whence comes this Love? We little know;
His will o'errides all let or stay:
And where goes he? Nay, ask not so;
He is not Love if he go away.

And what is Love, the truest, purest?
The Love that breathes but in his choice:
And what is Love, the strongest, surest?
The Love that makes no boast or noise.

And how does Love increase his riches?
He gives, and no reward he seeks:
And how speaks he when he bewitches?
Love simply loves, and never speaks.