DEAR, if you love me, hold me most your friend, <br />Chosen from out the many who would bear <br />Your gladness gladly - heavily your care; <br />Who best can sympathize, best comprehend, <br />Where others fail; who, breathless to the end, <br />Follows your tale of joy or of despair: <br />Hold me your counsellor, because I dare <br />To lift my hand to guide you, that I lend <br />My love to help you. And I would you knew <br />That I am fair enough to win men's hearts, <br />If so I willed; yet honor me above <br />All other women, since I am too true <br />To trap you with my sex's smaller arts. <br />Deem me all these, but love me as your love.<br /><br />Alice Duer Miller<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sonnet-131/
