Love

Without Disguise

by Henry van Dyke 1852–1933

From The Poems of Henry van Dyke (1925)

Love

If I have erred in showing all my heart,
And lost your favour by a lack of pride;
If standing like a beggar at your side
With naked feet, I have forgot the art
Of those who bargain well in passion's mart,
And win the thing they want by what they hide;
Be mine the fault as mine the hope denied,
Be mine the lover's and the loser's part.

The sin, if sin it was, I do repent,
And take the penance on myself alone;
Yet after I have borne the punishment,
I shall not fear to stand before the throne
Of Love with open heart, and make this plea:
"At least I have not lied to her nor Thee!"

✦ ✦ ✦

From "Lyrics of Labour and Romance".

MLA

Dyke, Henry van. “Without Disguise.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vandyke/64/.

Chicago

Dyke, Henry van. “Without Disguise.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vandyke/64/.

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