Summer of Love

by Joyce Kilmer

King Arthur—Sidney—Copperfield—the daring

And friendly souls of Meredith’s bright page—

The Pilgrim on his darksome journey faring,

And Shakespeare’s heroes, great in love and rage.

Fair ladies, too—here Beatricè smiling,

Through hell leads Dante to the happy stars;

And Heloise, the cruel guards beguiling,

With Abelard makes mock of convent bars.

Yet when night comes I leave these folks with pleasure

To open Love’s great summer-scented tome,