Published in The Twainian, Volume III No. 7 (April 1944), the editors do not know when or where it was written but speculate that it must have originated at one of the European spas Sam and Livy visited previous to May of 1892. I would image Aix Les Bains or Marienbad.
The poem first appeared in The Medical Fortnightly on May 15, 1892. Twain and his family had been in Berlin during the winter of 1891-92. Early in March they left for southern France and Italy. Leaving his family at Bad Nauheim in early June of 1892 Twain returned to this country. Hence, in order that the poem could be published in May of 1892 it must have been written by Twain in Europe at some time during the previous several months. Here is the poem and with it goes a request to our readers to supply any information they may have as to when and where it was first printed:
MARK TWAIN'S LOVE SONG
I ask not "Is thy heart still sure,
Thy love still warm, they faith secure?"
I ask not "Dream'st thou still of me?--
Long'st alway to fly to me?"
Ah, no--but as the sun includeth all
The good gifts of the Giver,
I sum all these in asking thee,
"0 sweetheart, how's your liver?"
For if thy liver worketh right,
Thy faith stands sure, thy hope is bright,
Thy dreams are sweet, and I their God,
Doubt threats in vain--thou scorn'st his rod.
Keep only they digestion clear,
No other foe my love doth foar.
But Indigestion hath the power
To mar the soul's serenest hour--
To crumble adamantine trust,
And turn its certainties to dust--
To dim the eye with nameless grief--
To chill the heart with unbelief--
To banish hope, and faith, and love--
Place heaven below and hell above.
Then list--details are naught to me,
So thou'st the sum-gift of the Giver--
I ask thee all in asking thee,
"O darling, how's your liver?"