Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ACCEPTANCE, by JEAN BAILEY



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ACCEPTANCE, by                    
First Line: I can be gay my dear, my whole life through
Last Line: I am held fast, of all your life a part.


I can be gay, my dear, my whole life through
And face down all my grief with steady eyes,
If it will give the highest joy to you
Making you feel that beauty never dies.
Knowing with utter surety how dear
You are to me, I can bear lonely days;
The sense that I may hold you always near
Will keep my courage steadfastly ablaze;
And, since I feel your need of tenderness
More urgent than the unvoiced need in me,
I can be joyous -- though you give me less --
Content that in my love you may go free.

It is enough to know that in your heart
I am held fast, of all your life a part.





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