He was my one and only love; <br />My world was mirror for his face. <br />We were as close as hand and glove, <br />Until he came with smiling grace <br />To say: 'We must be wise, my dear. <br />You are the idol of today, <br />But I too plan a proud career,-- <br />Let's kiss and go our way.' <br /> <br />And then he soared to sudden fame, <br />And even queens applauded him. <br />A halo glorified his name <br />That dust of time may never dim. <br />And me,--I toured golden Brazil, <br />Yet as gay mobs were cheering me, <br />The sun seemed black, the brilliance chill, <br />My triumph mockery. <br /> <br />Today if I should say: 'Hello!' <br />He'd say: 'How are you?' I'd say: 'Fine.' <br />Yet never shall he see the woe, <br />The wanness of my frail decline. <br />I love him now and always will. <br />Oh may his star be long to set! <br />My Maurice is an idol still,-- <br />What wreaths for Mistinguette!<br /><br />Robert William Service<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mistinguette/
