Thou and I

Love, I would have thee as the snow is, white

And pure on hilltops of the winter day;

Thou shouldst have sovereign rule, the spirit sway

Of beauty, wide and shining as the light.

Thou shouldst be as the evening star is, bright

As heaven can make it; all thy summer way

The melodies of June should sing and play

In thee, the darling of the day and night.

But I would have thee human first and last,

One not untouched by trouble, sought of sin,

Thine innocence not accident, but choice.

Fit then my service: I should have no past,

No future; newly would my life begin,

Obedient to the music of thy voice.