Who loves the most 'tis he possesses most;
Who loves the least 'tis he possesses least.
Indifference is ignorance, and hate
Informs with falsehoods. Love the teacher is
Of all that's true. Love gives us sole dominion
Of all that we can hold of earth or sky
Save as the beasts.
We cannot understand save as we love;
We cannot even see save as we love.
Who owns most of the valleys, hills, and woods.
The streams, the grazing flocks? 'Tis the same man
Who owns most of the sunsets, clouds, and stars.
And who is he? 'Tis he who loves them most;
For only by the measure of his love
Can lie discern their perfect loveliness
And know the joys of their companionship.
Who owns the priceless pictures? Only he
Who through his love can feel the thought they hold.
Nor title-deeds nor gold can give possession
Of aught most worth possessing. Only love
That gives all can receive all in return.
Who are the poor? For one whose flesh is starved
The thousands starve in spirit, in proud mansions
And humble huts alike. And which is worse
To own a shriveled purse or shriveled soul?
The want from which mankind is suff'ring most
Is want of love: and yet where one man strives
For riches and dominion had through love
The thousands strive to feed upon the husks.
"Love God and one another." No false fable
Nor crackling thorns of foolish rhetoric
Is Christ's commandment, but the way to riches
Which have no power to purchase sin and woe;
Which thieves take not away, nor years destroy.
