Love-Songs of Childhood

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033"></SPAN></p> <h2> AT PLAY </h2> <p>Play that you are mother dear,<br/> And play that papa is your beau;<br/> Play that we sit in the corner here,<br/> Just as we used to, long ago.<br/> Playing so, we lovers two<br/> Are just as happy as we can be,<br/> And I'll say "I love you" to you,<br/> And you say "I love you" to me!<br/> "I love you" we both shall say,<br/> All in earnest and all in play.<br/> Or, play that you are that other one<br/> That some time came, and went away;<br/> And play that the light of years agone<br/> Stole into my heart again to-day!<br/> Playing that you are the one I knew<br/> In the days that never again may be,<br/> I'll say "I love you" to you,"<br/> And you say "I love you" to me!<br/> "I love you!" my heart shall say<br/> To the ghost of the past come back to-day!<br/> Or, play that you sought this nestling-place<br/> For your own sweet self, with that dual guise<br/> Of your pretty mother in your face<br/> And the look of that other in your eyes!<br/> So the dear old loves shall live anew<br/> As I hold my darling on my knee,<br/> And I'll say "I love you" to you,<br/> And you say "I love you" to me!<br/> Oh, many a strange, true thing we say<br/> And do when we pretend to play!<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />