Valentines From An Uncertain Marksman

I send you two kisses
    Wrapped up in a rhyme;
From Love's warm abysses
I send you two kisses;
If one of them misses
    Please wait till next time,
And I'll send you three kisses
    Wrapped up in a rhyme.

Arthur Macy

Arthur Macy was an American poet known for his contributions during the 19th century. Born on June 6, 1842, he became widely recognized for his poignant and evocative verses, which often reflected themes of nature and human emotion. His poetry gained considerable respect and admiration during his lifetime. He passed away on June 1, 1904.

Arthur Macy

My Masterpiece

Arthur Macy, Simple Poetry

Dinner Favors, To S.

Arthur Macy, Simple Poetry

Disenchantment

Arthur Macy, Simple Poetry

Thou Art To Me

Arthur Macy, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Economy [A Valentine]

I send,
O sweetest friend,
A kiss;
Such as fair ladies gave
Of old, when knights were brave,
And smiles were won
Through foes undone.
And this will be
For you to give again to me;
And then, its present errand o'er,
I'll give it unto you once more,
Ere briefest time elapse,
With interest, perhaps.
Its mission spent,
Again to me it may be lent.
And thus, day after day,
As we a simple law obey,
Forever, to and fro,
The selfsame kiss will go;
A busy shuttle that shall weave
A web of love, to soften and relieve
Our daily care.
And so,
As thus we share,
With lip to lip,
Our frugal partnership,
One kiss will always do
For two.
And, oh, how easy it will be
To practice this economy!

Arthur Macy

Valentines From A Hyperbolist

Take all the love that e'er was told
    Since first the world began,
Increase it twenty thousand-fold
    (If mathematics can),
Add all the love the world shall see
    Till Gabriel's final call,
And when compared with mine 'twill be
    Infinitesimal.

Arthur Macy

My Valentine.

    O Dorothy, sweet Dorothy,
        You make my heart rejoice;
    Your presence is like Arcady,
        There's music in your voice;
    Heaven's purity is on your brow,
        Its light is in your eyne;
    I love you, and I ask you now
        To be my Valentine.

    Your face is like the lily in
        The morning's ruddy light;
    Your dimpled cheeks and tiny chin
        Are blessings to my sight;
    Your lips are fairer than the rose
        And redder far than wine;
    Your teeth are whiter than the snows:
        You'll be my Valentine!

    You are not quite so old as I,
        You've seen but summers three;
    And that's no doubt the reason why
        You are not coy with me.
    I'll come to you to-morrow,

W. M. MacKeracher

A Valentine [From A Very Little Boy To A Very Little Girl]

This is a valentine for you.
    Mother made it. She's real smart,
I told her that I loved you true
    And you were my sweetheart.

And then she smiled, and then she winked,
    And then she said to father,
"Beginning young!" and then he thinked,
    And then he said, "Well, rather."

Then mother's eyes began to shine,
And then she made this valentine:
"If you love me as I love you,
No knife shall cut our love in two,"
And father laughed and said, "How new!"
And then he said, "It's time for bed."

So, when I'd said my prayers,
Mother came running up the stairs
And told me I might send the rhymes,
And then she kissed me lots of times.
Then I turned over to the wall
And cried about you, and - that's all.

Arthur Macy

Valentines From An Inconstant-Constant

(After Henri Murger)

Though I love many maidens fair
As fondly as a heart may dare,
Yet still are you the only one
True goddess of my pantheon.

And though my life is like a song,
Each maid a stanza, clear and strong,
Yet always I return again
To you who are the sweet refrain.

Arthur Macy

Valentines From A Conchologist

Were I a murm'ring ocean shell
    Pressed close against your ear,
My constant whisperings would tell
    A story sweet to hear.
I'd make the message from the sea
    Love's tidings on the shore,
And I would woo with words so true
    That you could ask no more.

So if some silvern nautilus
    Lay close beside your cheek,
And you should hear a language dear
    Unto the heart I seek,
You'll know within the simple shell
    That murmurs o'er and o'er
I send to you a love more true
    Than e'er was breathed before.

Arthur Macy