In A Book-Shop

All day I serve among the volumes telling Old tales of love and war and high romance; Good company, God wot, is in them dwelling, Brave knights who dared to scorn untoward chance.

King Arthur--Sidney--Copperfield--the daring And friendly souls of Meredith’s bright page-- The Pilgrim on his darksome journey faring, And Shakespeare’s heroes, great in love and rage.

Fair ladies, too--here Beatricè smiling Through hell leads Dante to the happy stars; And Heloise, the cruel guards beguiling, With Abelard makes mock of convent bars.

Yet when night comes I leave these folks with pleasure To open Love’s great summer-scented tome Within whose pages--precious beyond measure-- My own White Flower Lady hath her home.