DEAR, if you love me, hold me most your friend, Chosen from out the many who would bear Your gladness gladly -- heavily your care; Who best can sympathize, best comprehend, Where others fail; who, breathless to the end, Follows your tale of joy or of despair. Hold me your counsellor, because I dare To lift my hand to guide you, that I lend My love to help you. And I would you knew That I am fair enough to win men's hearts, If so I willed; yet honor me above All other women, since I am too true To trap you with my sex's smaller arts. Deem me all these, but love me as your love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOD'S YOUTH by LOUIS UNTERMEYER APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE DAFFODILS by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE FRAGMENT by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES DEAD OUT-OF-DOORS by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON TO RALPH LEYCESTER, ESQ. ON HIS SENDING THE AUTHOR A HARE by JOHN BYROM |