| Fuess and Stearns, comps. The Little Book of Society Verse. 1922. | | | | If | | By James Jeffrey Roche |
| | | OH, if the world were mine, Love, | |
| I’d give the world for thee! | |
| Alas! there is no sign, Love, | |
| Of that contingency. | |
| |
| Were I a king,—which is n’t | 5 |
| To be considered now,— | |
| A diadem had glistened | |
| Upon that lovely brow. | |
| |
| Had fame with laurels crowned me,— | |
| She has n’t, up to date,— | 10 |
| Nor time nor change had found me | |
| To love and thee ingrate. | |
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| If death threw down his gage, Love, | |
| Though life is dear to me, | |
| I’d die, e’en of old age, Love, | 15 |
| To win a smile from thee. | |
| |
| But being poor, we part, dear, | |
| And love, sweet love, must die; | |
| Thou wilt not break thy heart, dear, | |
| No more, I think, shall I! | 20 | | | |
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