Elsie A. Gidlow

I SHALL never have any fear of love—

Not of its depth nor its uttermost height,

Its exquisite pain and its terrible delight.

Never, never shall I have any fear of love.

I shall never hesitate to go down

Into the fastness of its abyss,

Nor shrink from the cruelty of its awful kiss.

I shall never hesitate to go down.

Never shall I dread love’s strength

Nor any hurt it might give;

(Tender love is a sick fugitive),

I shall never dread love’s strength.

I shall never draw back from love

Through fear of its vast pain,

But build joy of it and count it gain.

I shall never draw back from love.

I shall never have any fear of love,

Nor shrink weakly from its touch;

I have loved too terribly and too much

Ever to have any fear of love.