| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | To ——.
“I love thee—not because thy love for me” | | By Maria (White) Lowell (1821–1853) |
| | | I LOVE thee—not because thy love for me, | |
| Like a great sunrise, did o’ervault my day | |
| With purple light, and wrought upon my way | |
| The morning dew in fresh emblazonry; | |
| Nor that thou seest all I fain would be | 5 |
| And thus dost call me by mine angel’s name, | |
| While still my woman’s heart beats free of blame | |
| Beneath the shelter of thy charity. | |
| Oh! no, for wearily upon my soul | |
| Would weigh thy golden crown of unbought praise, | 10 |
| Did I not look beyond the hour’s control, | |
| To where those fruits of perfect virtue raise | |
| Their bloom, that thou ere-while with prophet eyes | |
| Didst name mine own, in groves of paradise. | | | | |
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