Poems (Ripley)/The Favorite Gown

by Lillie Rosalie Ripley

THE FAVORITE GOWN

Ah there are gowns most exquisite
 Of rich materials wrought;
Of velvets rich and satins soft,
 In foreign countries sought;
Of laces caught and fashioned so:
 In many a jeweled knot.—

Ah there are gowns like spider's webs,
 With jewels thickly sown:
Where seed-pearls gleam in rich array,
 Caught from the ocean's foam;
And diamonds glimmer like dew drops,
 And in rich lace find room.

Ah this was at the opera worn,
 And that a ball-room graced,
While waltzing lightly with her love,
 His arm about her waist;
And at a banquet hall this gown:
 With golden trappings laced.

Ah, all these gowns so rich and rare
 Are of the world a part;
And lightly-worded flatteries
 Into the memory start:
The corteous bow and hollow smile,
 Revealing no true heart.

The richest gown in all the world—
 The loveliest to me—
Though wrought of silken fabric soft
 To suit a high degree,
Or only of soft muslin wrought
 It matters not to me:

Is the dear gown that's worn at home
 Far from the world apart.—
No hollow words of flattery
 Into the memory start:
The associations of this gown
 Are true love from the heart.

The dearest treasures earth can give
 Are associated here:
Soft, clinging arms and kisses sweet
 Of little children dear,
And noble love, that glorifies,
 And brings sweet heaven near.