LOVE – A POEM ATTRIBUTED TO ROY CROFT

          LOVE – A POEM ATTRIBUTED TO ROY CROFT

The poem reproduced herein is attributed to the American poet Roy Croft (1907-1973)0, but according to another account it was actually written by his compatriot Mary Carolyn Davies (b.1888). It is mostly recited as a wedding song or a wedding speech.

Just for the knowledge of the readers, it may be added here that love is not an ordinary emotion. It is an un-extinguishable flame, a very deep passion, fondness, friendship, liking, attachment, affection, adoration or infatuation. Life cannot survive without it. It may take other different forms, but even then it continues to remain a matter of the heart whose beatings keep volatile not only humans but also other animates existing on this earth.

The poem is entitled LOVE and reads as follows:

“I LOVE YOU.

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me

That you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up hand

And passing over

All foolish, weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else, had looked

Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you

Are helping me to make

Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern

But a temple;

Out of the works

Of my every day

Not a reproach

But a song.

I love you

Because you have done

More than any creed

Could have done

To make me good,

And more than any fate

Could have done

To make me happy.

You have done it

Without a touch,

Without a word,

Without a sign.

You have done it

By being yourself.

Perhaps that is what

Being a friend means,

After all. “

26^th December 2019                                                        G.R.KANWAL