Love's Sacrifice
I know you long for me to-night;
I know you hurt impatient hands
Against the sepulchre that stands
O'er our delight.
If I could only comfort you,
Could come to-night in spirit form,
Yet with my glad heart beating warm
To find you true;
And lay your head upon my breast,
And hush your sighs of pain, and still
Your eager yearning, at my will,
And give you rest.
Yet here, so many leagues away,
To grieve for you is all my part,
To feel your sorrow in my heart,
To love and pray.
Yet is this all? It is not so.
You know me fond; you know me true;
My life is crowned with love of you,
And this you know.
What then? If we must never meet —
To feel each other's sympathy
Through all the leagues of land and sea,
Is this not sweet?
My comrade-soul, our prayers arise
Like incense from our broken will,
Which on God's altar burneth still,
Love's sacrifice.
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