Nay, lady, one frown is enough <br />in a life as soon over as this— <br />and though minutes seem long in a huff, <br />they’re minutes ’tis pity to miss! <br />The smiles you imprison so lightly <br />are reckon’d, like days in eclipse; <br />and though you may smile again brightly, <br />you’ve lost so much light from your lips! <br />Pray, lady, smile! <br />The cup that is longest untasted <br />may be with our bliss running o’er, <br />and, love when we will, we have wasted <br />an age in not loving before! <br />Perchance cupid’s forging a fetter <br />to tie us together some day, <br />and, just for the chance, we had better <br />be laying up love, I should say! <br />Nay, lady, smile!<br /><br />Nathaniel Parker Willis<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-helen-in-a-huff/
