New Zealand Verse/Love and Passion

by Alexander Bathgate

CV.

Love and Passion.

Passion dies, but Love’s eternal,
 Love’s the essence of our God:
Love is old, yet ever vernal;
 Passion’s but an earthly clod.

Love and passion oft are blended,
 In a strange, bewild’ring way;
Love, true Love, shall ne’er be ended;
 Passion lasts a fleeting day.

Passion’s oft for Love mistaken,
 Passion many a soul enthrals,
Yet from it they’ll surely waken,
 E’en on earth mere passion palls.

But pure love is never sating;
 Nearest God is purest love;
Pure love unalloyed is waiting
 For us in the realms above.

Passion dies, but Love’s eternal;
 Love’s the essence of our God:
Love is old, yet ever vernal,
 Passion’s but an earthly clod.

Alexander Bathgate.