''The Kingdom of Love" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
THE KINGDOM OF LOVE
In the dawn of the day when the sea and the earth Reflected the sunrise above,
I set forth with a heart full of courage and mirth To seek for the Kingdom of Love.
I asked of a Poet I met on the way
Which cross-road would lead me aright; And he said “Follow me, and ere long you shall see Its glittering turrets of light.”
And soon in the distance a city shone fair. “Look yonder,” he said; “How it gleams!” But alas! for the hopes that were doomed to despair, It was only the “Kingdom of Dreams.”
Then the next man I asked was a gay Cavalier, And he said: “Follow me, follow me”;
And with laughter and song we went speeding along By the shores of Life’s beautiful sea.
Then we came to a valley more tropical far Than the wonderful vale of Cashmere,
And I saw from a bower a face like a flower Smile out on the gay Cavalier;
And he said: “We have come to humanity’s goal: Here love and delight are intense.”
But alas and alas! for the hopes of my soul – It was only the “Kingdom of Sense.”
As I journeyed more slowly I met on the road A coach with retainers behind;
And they said: “Follow me, for our Lady’s abode Belongs in that realm, you will find.” ‘Twas a grand dame of fashion, a newly-made bride, I followed, encouraged and bold;
But my hopes died away like the last gleams of day, For we came to the “Kingdom of Gold.”
At the door of a cottage I asked a fair maid. “I have heard of that realm,” she replied; “But my feet never roam from the ‘Kingdom of Home,’ So I know not the way,” and she sighed. I looked on the cottage; how restful it seemed! And the maid was as fair as a dove.
Great light glorified my soul as I cried: “Why, HOME is the ‘Kingdom of Love’!”
THE KINGDOM OF LOVE
In the dawn of the day when the sea and the earth Reflected the sunrise above,
I set forth with a heart full of courage and mirth To seek for the Kingdom of Love.
I asked of a Poet I met on the way
Which cross-road would lead me aright; And he said “Follow me, and ere long you shall see Its glittering turrets of light.”
And soon in the distance a city shone fair. “Look yonder,” he said; “How it gleams!” But alas! for the hopes that were doomed to despair, It was only the “Kingdom of Dreams.”
Then the next man I asked was a gay Cavalier, And he said: “Follow me, follow me”;
And with laughter and song we went speeding along By the shores of Life’s beautiful sea.
Then we came to a valley more tropical far Than the wonderful vale of Cashmere,
And I saw from a bower a face like a flower Smile out on the gay Cavalier;
And he said: “We have come to humanity’s goal: Here love and delight are intense.”
But alas and alas! for the hopes of my soul – It was only the “Kingdom of Sense.”
As I journeyed more slowly I met on the road A coach with retainers behind;
And they said: “Follow me, for our Lady’s abode Belongs in that realm, you will find.” ‘Twas a grand dame of fashion, a newly-made bride, I followed, encouraged and bold;
But my hopes died away like the last gleams of day, For we came to the “Kingdom of Gold.”
At the door of a cottage I asked a fair maid. “I have heard of that realm,” she replied; “But my feet never roam from the ‘Kingdom of Home,’ So I know not the way,” and she sighed. I looked on the cottage; how restful it seemed! And the maid was as fair as a dove.
Great light glorified my soul as I cried: “Why, HOME is the ‘Kingdom of Love’!”