Classic Poem

If you love me, love of mine,
Let me feel it day by day!
Never take the light divine
Of your tender love away!
Let me feel it when we meet,
By the joy that fills my heart
Making every moment sweet;
By my sorrow, when we part.

Let me feel that you are mine,
When the autumn leaves alight;
When the suns of summer shine;
When the stars begem the night.
Let me feel it hour by hour,
As the seasons come and go:
When the golden kingcups flower;
When the fields are white with snow.

Let me feel it in your hand;
Let me see it in your eyes:
—Then will sky and sea and land
Gleam with light of Paradise.
Let me hear it in your voice!
Let me know that love is there,
Bidding all my heart rejoice,
Casting out a life's despair.

Let me feel that love will last
Though the seasons fade and wane:
That, when Time itself is past,
Love will store its golden grain.
Though the restless waves may chafe,
Though the storm-wind smite the shore,
Let me feel that love is safe,
Far beyond the billows' roar!

Let me, as time onward flows
Stealing sunshine from the air,
Stealing colour from the rose,
Stealing blackness from your hair,—
Let me, as the days depart,
Feel you growing through the days
Ever dearer to my heart,
Ever fairer to my gaze.

Let me feel that, when we met,
That was life's propitious hour.
Though Time's sickle may be set
To the grass-blade and the flower,
Let me, darling, know that you
Dwelling in love's sunnier clime,
Where the skies are ever blue,
Are beyond the reach of Time.

Let me find—when dart on dart
Strikes me, giving little rest—
Perfect refuge in thine heart,
Holiest haven on thy breast!
Let me, when with hate increased
All the world's one hostile line,
Feel that one sweet heart at least
Beats in unison with mine.

Let me feel that all that's best
In my life to thee I owe;
Aye, and every hour most blest
Of my seasons here below.
What in me is good and pure
—If some stray pure thoughts there be—
What of life's work may endure,
True love, all I owe to thee.

Let me feel, if all forsake,
One is true for evermore.
When the lonely wild waves break
All along life's lonely shore,
Let me feel, if thou art there,
With thy faithful hand in mine,
That in thousands through the air
All the stars of summer shine.

Be on earth my perfect queen,
Tender, loving, helpful, fond;
Lead me past things felt and seen
To our unseen home beyond.
Let the mystery in thine eyes
Ever sacred presage be,
Of a light beyond the skies,
Of a land we cannot see.

Help me onward day by day;
When my weary thoughts despair,
Soothe my weariness and say,
“Wait till night. The stars are there!”
When my restless thoughts repine
Longing that the night be done,
Whisper, with thy hand in mine,
“Wait till morning brings the sun.”

So for ever be my guide.
Weary was I, sad, alone—
All the world I had defied,
But I bent to thee, my own.
Haughty helm and vengeful sword
At thy word I flung away:
Ceased from hatred, and adored;
Half remembered how to pray.

Teach me to be true and strong,
Brave and humble, pure and glad:
Let thy soul inspire my song;
Let my soul no more be sad.
Change my hatred of the world
Into perfect love of thee,
As the river onward hurled
Calms its wild wave in the sea.

Change my dark despairing soul;
Lead my thoughts towards peace and rest.
Lo! in thee I find my goal;
Lo! at thee I end my quest.
Let me feel that thou art mine—
Gentlest, thou, of all things born:
Let me feel that I am thine—
I, whose very breath was scorn.

Lead me slowly through the love,
Changeless, vast, I give to thee,
Back to hope, if so it prove;
On to heaven, if this may be.
When this fleeting life is past,
Past its suns that set and rise
Lead me, angel-love, at last
Back with thee to Paradise!