THE AWAKENING
I had no culture for my love,
Hungrily my heart cried:
“Knowledge, be my master,
Turn, brain, O faster.
Grind the seeds of wisdom fine,
Till no mind be wise as mine,
At my wit in smiting
Men will smile delighting.
'Tis not too quick for craft, or
Not too keen for laughter.”
Wise for love's sweet sake to be
Surely is no vanity.
I had no fairness for my love.
Hungrily my heart cried:
“Beauty, be my handmaid!
Leave me unafraid.
That another glass have shown
Fair a face as hath my own.”
So the early morning
Found me still adorning.
Going from the glass with pride,
Coming back unsatisfied.
Vain for love's sweet sake to be
Surely is no vanity.
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