Poetry Thursday, bucking up

Go Give the World

~Otto Leland Bohanan

I do not crave to have thee mine alone, dear

   Keeping thy charms within my jealous sight;

Go, give the world the blessing of thy beauty,

   That other hearts may share of my delight!

I do not ask, thy love should be mine only

   While others falter through the dreary night;

Go, kiss the tears from some wayfarer’s vision, 

   That other eyes may know the joy of light!

Where days are sad and skies are hung with darkness, 

   Go, send a smile that sunshine may be rife;

Go, give a song, a word of kindly greeting, 

   To ease the sorrow of some lonely life!

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on July 12, 2020 by the Academy of American Poets.