The Kingdom Of Love

In the dawn of the day when the sea and the earth          Reflected the sunrise above,     I set forth with a heart full of courage and mirth          To seek for the Kingdom of Love.     I asked of a Poet I met on the way          Which cross-road would lead me aright;     And he said "Follow me, and ere long you shall see          Its glittering turrets of light."     And soon in the distance a city shone fair.          "Look yonder," he said; "How it gleams!"     But alas! for the hopes that were doomed to despair,          It was only the "Kingdom of Dreams."     Then the next man I asked was a gay Cavalier,          And he said: "Follow me, follow me";     And with laughter and song we went speeding along          By the shores of Life's beautiful sea.     Then we came to a valley more tropical far          Than the wonderful vale of Cashmere,     And I saw from a bower a face like a flower          Smile out on the gay Cavalier;     And he said: "We have come to humanity's goal:          Here love and delight are intense."     But alas and alas! for the hopes of my soul -          It was only the "Kingdom of Sense."     As I journeyed more slowly I met on the road          A coach with retainers behind;     And they said: "Follow me, for our Lady's abode          Belongs in that realm, you will find."     'Twas a grand dame of fashion, a newly-made bride,          I followed, encouraged and bold;     But my hopes died away like the last gleams of day,          For we came to the "Kingdom of Gold."     At the door of a cottage I asked a fair maid.          "I have heard of that realm," she replied;     "But my feet never roam from the 'Kingdom of Home,'          So I know not the way," and she sighed.     I looked on the cottage; how restful it seemed!          And the maid was as fair as a dove.     Great light glorified my soul as I cried:          "Why, Home is the 'Kingdom of Love'!"