Poem by Richard Watson Gilder

The New Day. Part 3. 5. “I Will Be Brave for Thee”

I will be brave for thee, dear heart; for thee
     ⁠My boasted bravery forego. I will
     ⁠For thee be wise, or lose my little skill;
⁠     Coward or brave; wise, foolish; bond or free.
No grievous cost in anything I see
⁠     That brings thee bliss, or only keeps thee, still,
     ⁠In painless peace. So Heaven thy cup but fill,
⁠     Be empty mine unto eternity!
Come to me, Love, and let me touch thy face!
⁠     Lean to me, Love; breathe on me thy dear breath!
⁠     Fly from me, Love, to some far hiding-place,
If thy one thought of me or hindereth
     ⁠Or hurteth thy sweet soul—then grant me grace
     ⁠To be forgotten, tho' that grace be death!

1. The New Day. Part 3. 19. Thistle-Down
2. The New Day. Part 4. 17. “He Knows Not the Path of Duty”
3. The New Day. Part 3. 12. Denial
4. The New Day. Part 3. 31. “When the Last Doubt Is Doubted”
5. The New Day. Part 4. 7. Song (Years have flown since I knew thee first)

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