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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 19. THE FAIRY QUEEN PROSERPINA by THOMAS CAMPION FLOATING HEARTS by GEORGE BRADFORD BARTLETT MISS MILLY O'NAIRE by WILLARD GROSVENOR BLEYER MORNING ON SHINNECOCK by OLIVA WARD BUSH MASQUE AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OF SOMERSET: THIRD SQUIRE by THOMAS CAMPION |