Verse-Making Was Least Of My Virtues

Verse-making was least of my virtues: I viewed with despair Wealth that never yet was but might be—all that verse-making were If the life would but lengthen to wish, let the mind be laid bare. So I said "To do little is bad, to do nothing is worse 2And made verse. Love-making,—how simple a matter! No depths to explore, No heights in a life to ascend! No disheartening Before, No affrighting Hereafter,—love now will be love evermore. So I felt "To keep silence were folly:"—all language above, 4I made love.