A Recipe

Take a pair of sparkling eyes,

Hidden, ever and anon,

In a merciful eclipse -

Do not heed their mild surprise -

Having passed the Rubicon.

Take a pair of rosy lips;

Take a figure trimly planned -

Such as admiration whets

(Be particular in this);

Take a tender little hand,

Fringed with dainty fingerettes,

Press it - in parenthesis; -

Take all these, you lucky man -

Take and keep them, if you can.

Take a pretty little cot -

Quite a miniature affair -

Hung about with trellised vine,

Furnish it upon the spot

With the treasures rich and rare

I've endeavoured to define.

Live to love and love to live -

You will ripen at your ease,

Growing on the sunny side -

Fate has nothing more to give.

You're a dainty man to please

If you are not satisfied.

Take my counsel, happy man:

Act upon it, if you can!