Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | III. Faith: Hope: Love: Service | | Love | | Charles Francis Richardson (1851–1913) |
| | | IF suddenly upon the street | |
| My gracious Saviour I should meet, | |
| And he should say, “As I love thee, | |
| What love hast thou to offer me?” | |
| Then what could this poor heart of mine | 5 |
| Dare offer to that heart divine? | |
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| His eye would pierce my outward show, | |
| His thought my inmost thought would know; | |
| And if I said, “I love thee, Lord,” | |
| He would not heed my spoken word, | 10 |
| Because my daily life would tell | |
| If verily I loved him well. | |
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| If on the day or in the place | |
| Wherein he met me face to face, | |
| My life could show some kindness done, | 15 |
| Some purpose formed, some work begun | |
| For his dear sake, then it were meet | |
| Love’s gift to lay at Jesus’ feet. | | | | |
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