TOO meek by half was he who came A-wooing me one morn, For he thought so little of himself I learned to share his scorn. At night I had a suitor, vain As the vainest in the land; Almost he seemed to condescend In the offer of his hand. In one who pressed his suit I missed Courage and manly pride; And how could I think of such a one As a leader and a guide? And then there came a worshiper With such undoubting trust, That when he knelt he seemed not worth Upraising from the dust. The next was never in the wrong, Was not too smooth nor rough; So faultless and so good was he, That that was fault enough. But one, the last of all who came, I know not how to paint; No angel do I seem to him -- He scarcely calls me saint! He hath such sins and weaknesses As mortal man befall; He hath a thousand faults, and yet I love him with them all! He never asked me yea nor nay, Nor knelt to me one hour; But he took my heart, and holds my heart With a lover's tender power. And I bow, as needs I must, and say, In proud humility, Love's might is right, and I yield at last To manhood's royalty! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 5. THE DANCING GIRL by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON HOLY WILLIE'S PRAYER by ROBERT BURNS QUA CURSUM VENTUS by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH ZION, OR THE CITY OF GOD by JOHN NEWTON TO CHLOE; AN APOLOGY FOR GOING INTO THE COUNTRY by JOHN WOLCOTT PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 72, 73, 74, 75. AWWAL, AKHIR, THAHIR, BATIN by EDWIN ARNOLD |