Love's Payment

Love's Payment written by William Henry Davies

From "Secrets", 1924

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All fish and fowl, all fruit, and all you drink,
   Lie at the bottom of my purse, and I
Demand at will two kisses for my one;
   This is my certain charge - I swear it by
Our honest cows, that turn those meadows white
With mushrooms, where they passed a summer's night.

Whether it is the seal or silver fox,
   The sable, silk, or plain white calico -
Two kisses for my one I charge at will,
   Since by my power these changes come and go:
I swear by sheep, that let the brambles pull,
In payment for their leaves, some soft white wool.

This work is in the public domain in countries where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less.