WHEN YOU CAME, a poem

DEAR, when you came the day was bright;
The moments, roseate to my sight,
     Flew by me, and my heart was glad
     Without you; but I loved you, lad—
Loved in my own despite!

As morn, I thought, so would be night,
Nor feared eclipsing cloud, nor blight—
     Nay, fancied naught to life could add,
          Dear, when you came!

And now—the good I deemed my right—
But you with love will still requite
     The follies that have made you sad!
     You smile—there—whisper! Nothing had
Illumined for me love's altar-light,
          Dear, when you came!

"When You Came" by Florence Earle Coates. Published in Harper's Weekly (31 October 1908) and Lyrics of Life (1909).