The Progress

For Valentine's Day.

When the skies be cold and gray
And winds be wild and shrill.
Love's messenger shall find his way
Across the vale, and hill
For sunlight he shall have your face
For stars-two eyes that shine
Where my heart has its dwelling place-
Your own dear Valentine!
He turns to neither left nor right.
But straight ahead he goes:
His guide is Hope, whose footsteps light
The surest pathway knows:
He bears my message in his scrip.
A song whose every line
Shall tune itself to music on your lips,
My own dear Valentine:
Oh, when you hear his eager knock
Upon the door to-night,
Make haste to lift the heavy lock
And bid your Cupid in.
Glad then sun shall gleam the skies above.
And glad this heart of mine
To be at last with her I love
With you, dear Valentine.
- Frank Dempster Sherman in Ladies Home Journal.