Love poems of Frederick Douglas Harper

WHEN PIECES FALL APART 
hen pieces fall apart, 
Away from the whole— 
Hurt it does, but go on 
We must with a love of those 
Remains and priceless memories 
Of past’s parts, people, and places; 
Cry we should of tears that 
Do dry. 
Reprinted: Harper’s Romantica: On Peace and Romance, 1988. 
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Frederick Douglas Harper 
 
58 
DEAR LOVE 
nd it was said: 
“Dear love, 
Please know I will not 
Call you or call upon you again; 
I want nothing and need nothing 
From you; and what I shared 
With you was unappreciated 
But with no regret on my part; 
Please know you can rest in 
The privacy of my absence, 
And go both we our separate ways 
In search of our own happiness.” 
Reprinted: Harper’s Romantica: On Peace and Romance, 1988. 
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LOVE POEMS of Frederick Douglas Harper 
 
59 
TO HAVE 
o have is to miss, 
To know is to miss, 
To experience the ecstasy of 
Sensuality is to suffer the pain 
Of absence. 
Love comes and love goes, 
Choosing carefully in couplets its 
Beneficiaries and victims of joy 
And pain, of happiness and shame. 
But, such is the beauty of things 
That come and go; of flowers, 
Stars, and theatre lights. 
Love comes and love goes; 
To have is to hold it precious. 
Reprinted: Harper’s Poems on Love and Life, 1985. 
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Frederick Douglas Harper 
 
60 
LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE 
If you can, 
Love what you have; 
For once lost, you may 
Not be able to love it again. 
Love what you have; 
For once lost, you may 
Not be able to love it the same. 
Love what you have; 
For once lost, you may 
Not be able to love another— 
You may not be able to love 
At all. 
Reprinted: Harper’s Poems on Love and Life, 1985. 

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LOVE POEMS of Frederick Douglas Harper 
 
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