| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | A Book of Gold | | By John James Piatt (1835–1917) |
| | | IF I could write a book made sweet with thee | |
| (Oh, therefore sweet with all that may be sweet!) | |
| With lingering music, nevermore complete, | |
| Should turn its golden pages: each should be | |
| Like whispering voice, or beckoning hand; and he | 5 |
| Who read should follow (while his heart would beat | |
| For some new miracle), with most eager feet, | |
| Through sacred labyrinths of mystery. | |
| Temple and lighted home of love should seem | |
| The Book wherein my love remembered thine. | 10 |
| These holiest visions evermore should gleam, | |
| Vanishing wings, with wandering souls of sound, | |
| And breaths of incense from an inmost shrine, | |
| Sought nearer evermore, and never found. | | | | |
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