"Ask Me Why I Love You" by Walter Everette Hawkins

Ask me why I love you, dear,/ And I will ask the rose  

Support Poem-a-Day February 15, 2020   Ask Me Why I Love You Walter Everette Hawkins Ask me why I love you, dear,      And I will ask the rose  Why it loves the dews of Spring       At the Winter's close;  Why the blossoms' nectared sweets       Loved by questing bee,— I will gladly answer you,       If they answer me.  Ask me why I love you, dear,      And I will ask the flower Why it loves the Summer sun,      Or the Summer shower;  I will ask the lover's heart      Why it loves the moon,  Or the star-besprinkled skies      In a night in June.  Ask me why I love you, dear,      I will ask the vine  Why its tendrils trustingly      Round the oak entwine;  Why you love the mignonette     Better than the rue,— If you will but answer me,      I will answer you.  Ask me why I love you, dear,      Let the lark reply,  Why his heart is full of song    When the twilight's nigh;  Why the lover heaves a sigh     When her heart is true;  If you will but answer me,     I will answer you.  This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on February 15, 2020, by the Academy of American Poets. "Ask Me Why I Love You" was originally published in Chords and Discords (The Gorham Press, 1920). Walter Everette Hawkins was born around 1888 in North Carolina. He is the author of Chords and Discords (The Gorham Press, 1920) and worked as a mail clerk in the post office of the City of Washington. Chords and Discords (The Gorham Press, 1920)   "Heart to Heart" by Rita Dove  read more "This Much and More" by Djuna Barnes read more Thanks to Roger Reeves, author of King Me (Copper Canyon Press, 2013), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month's weekdays. Read an extended Q&A about Reeves' curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year. Make a one-time contribution to help us publish Poem-a-Day.   Make your support go further by enrolling in monthly giving and joining the Mug Club! Copyright © 2020 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: The Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane St #901 New York, NY 10038 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.