At Play
Play that you are mother dear,And play that papa is your beau;Play that we sit in the corner here,Just as we used to, long ago.Playing so, we lovers twoAre just as happy as we can be,And I’ll say “I love you” to you,And you say “I love you” to me!“I love you” we both shall say,All in earnest and all in play.
Or, play that you are that other oneThat some time came, and went away;And play that the light of years agoneStole into my heart again to-day!Playing that you are the one I knewIn the days that never again may be,I’ll say “I love you” to you,”And you say “I love you” to me!“I love you!” my heart shall sayTo the ghost of the past come back to-day!
Or, play that you sought this nestling-placeFor your own sweet self, with that dual guiseOf your pretty mother in your faceAnd the look of that other in your eyes!So the dear old loves shall live anewAs I hold my darling on my knee,And I’ll say “I love you” to you,And you say “I love you” to me!Oh, many a strange, true thing we sayAnd do when we pretend to play!