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...LOVE'S CAUTION by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES SONNET by MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI THE LAIRD O' COCKPEN by CAROLINA OLIPHANT NAIRNE SONNET: 61 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE TO A DISTANT FRIEND by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH TO HIS INGENIOUS FRIEND, MR. N. TATE by PHILIP AYRES PARLEYINGS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE OF IMPORTANCE: GERARD DE LAIRESSE by ROBERT BROWNING |