| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917. |
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| 208. Song from “Mater” |
| | | By Percy Mackaye |
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| LONG ago, in the young moonlight, | |
| I lost my heart to a hero; | |
| Strong and tender and stern and right, | |
| Darker than night, | |
| And terribler than Nero. | 5 |
| Heigh, but he was dear, O! | |
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| And there, to bind our fellowship, | |
| I laughed at him; and a moment after, | |
| I laughed again till he bit his lip, | |
| For the test of love is laughter. | 10 |
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| “Lord and master, look up!” I cried; | |
| “I wreathe your brow with a laurel! | |
| Gloom and wisdom and right and pride | |
| Cast them aside, | |
| And kiss, and cure our quarrel. | 15 |
| Never mind the moral!” | |
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| Alas! with strange and saddened eyes | |
| He looked on me; and my mirth grew dafter, | |
| To feel the flush of his dark surprise; | |
| For the zest of love is laughter. | 20 |
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| Long ago, in the old moonlight, | |
| I lost my hero and lover; | |
| Strong and tender and stern and right, | |
| Never shall night | |
| Nor day his brow uncover. | 25 |
| Ah, my heart, that is over! | |
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| Yet still, for joy of the fellowship | |
| That bound us both through the years long after, | |
| I laugh to think how he bit his lip; | |
| For the test of love— | 30 |
| And the best of love—is laughter. | |
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