Album of the Heart ~ Undated Entry

To Miss Flora

Is there one pleasant word or passing thought,

The joy of which you fain would cherish

Then why not here without alloy,

Preserve them where they will not parish

Within the Album.

 



Fond recollections of the past,

Our present troubles oft dispel.

Where e'er in life, our lot be cast,

Kind memory throws her magic spell,

Around the Album.

Would you then from memory's store,

Retain one golden drop of pleasure.

The names, the works, of Friends of Yours

Preserve and ever fondly treasure,

Within the Album.

Gideon

 

The lithograph "Dreaming" is from a painting by Brussels native Joseph Coomans (1816-1889). It's from an book I was given entitled "Famous Pictures" published in 1902. 

 

"The dream of Joseph Coomans' Pompeian maiden is evidently one of those which come by day to young ladies not insensible to the sentiment of love."

 

I just opened the book to a random page and there she was, the perfect vision for the poem to my great grandmother from the mysterious Gideon.