The Little Devil

The Little Devil written by William Henry Davies

From "Love Poems" (1935)

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The Sun has his spots, the Moon has her shadows,
   The Sea has his wrinkles, the Land has her warts;
Sweet Faith has her doubts, and lovers their quarrels,
   And nothing is perfect in all its parts.

How lovely is a garden when neglected!
   What could be uglier than a perfect face!
Shall I then call my Love a perfect angel
   Sent down from Heaven to take a mortal's place?

How could she wear and last this common life,
   Unless her charms had some alloy of evil?
An Angel, no; but by Love's two extremes,
   Of ice and fire - "Come here, you little devil!"

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